James

Alan - on your point about an "imaginative and simple form of redistribution", does anyone know any theories about this or countries where such a scheme exists?

What is there to talk about in West Dulwich? There's nothing there but houses and Audi estates!

I see your point Spadetownboy but I still worry about a society where your life chances rely so heavily on the circumstances into which you're born. Isn't fairness to all the measure of a civilized society? It seems that the rich can get away with anything these days. They pay accountants to minimise their tax bills and lawyers to find loopholes in the law. Nepotism has always been with us. But recent trends indicate the emergence of a new breed of super-rich (getting richer by the day) while povery is entrenched among certain communities. Nobody is saying we should all earn the same but surely there must be some way to redirect some of the excess at the top down to those who need it without stifling the economy? I worry we're getting more like the US every day. Yes, New York is a great place to visit. But if I was a poor person there with no medical insurance I might be less enthusiastic about it.

If it was the Express there would have been a picture of Prince Harry as a comparison.

Beat you to it Brendan, sorry:))

Surely there is a direct link between this and the rising tide of asylum seekers?

I think we're all going to hell in a handcart, Alan. Thanks to all these damn Guardian readers!

"It also seems that the people most concerned about 'the poor' are middle class Guardian readers who moan about the system because they themselves made a spurious career choice and slipped down the relative wealth league tables that they hold so dear." Um, do you mean me? I do regret my "spurious" career. Even though it suits my skills, I'm good at it, I enjoy it and I'm doing well, alas, if only I was a city boy. Then I could earn bucketloads of money and have no life!!! Great!

If we've never had it so good then why is social mobility worse than it was in the 50s? Why can you predict with 99% accuracy someone's prospects from their postcodes? Try telling the people on the breadline that "they've never had it so good"! Btw Jeremy, apologies if I was a bit full-on. But the problem with these so-called "working-class" politicians is that there's always the suspicion they're laying it on a bit thick for the common touch. I doubt John Major's upbringing was hand-to-mouth. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I think we all accept that some will always earn more than others. What is repugnant is the sheer scale of the discrepancy. I would rather go the way of the Scandinavians than the Yanks (remember New Orleans?)

Haha Jeremy, I think Bob's got you there. We had a female Prime Minister once. So come on all you lazy, thick, talentless women who lack drive, where are you!!? Why aren't more of you in politics? Get on yer bike! (In the words of one politician) Right Jeremy?

"As for the wealth gap... times are changing, these banking jobs are now within the reach of most graduates if they have the inclination, intelligence and willpower. The opportunities are out there for almost anyone." Jeremy, you are living in cloud-cuckoo land. Where do you think graduates come from? Council estates? Besides which, why should the rest of us have to live in a world where house prices are grossly inflated by their bonuses? Not everyone wants to be a city trader (I wouln't do it for all the money in the world).

Well said. I wonder how much money we WASTE every year dealing with social problems caused by the widening poverty gap? Perhaps even more than these greedy city boys (allegedly) blow on second homes in places like East Dulwich?

Yes, thank heavens for city bonuses. As far as I'm concerned, each city boy is worth a few hundred nurses - as his salary clearly indicates. And good on all these rich people doing up houses to get even richer. Well done! Congratulations for being born into privilege and doing even better for yourself.

Brendan you are soooo right. You're not an 80-year old, just well adjusted. I don't see the appeal of a stag do at all. I think any environment where you take away the women tends to see the worst aspects of male behaviour coming out, driven by some pathetic need to out-gross each other. Free country and all that - but when it starts to make other people's lives a misery it's not funny any more.

Susyp, do you work for Blue Mountain!? Very suspicious. The service there is shoddy and the food amateurish in the extreme. They would have every reason to be worried about Le C stealing their business...

Think there's a point here. Some people seem to think that us veggies don't like eating or something. I love my food! A veggie meal is not the meat one minus the meat. Get it together please!

Mangosteen in Gypsy Hill (near CP) is good too - also good for veggies.

Has anyone mentioned the 80s Top Of The Pops theme (the one with the exploding records/jukebox). By far the best. And what about Why Don't You?

I saw Sultans of Ping at Brixton in the early 90s. The shame.

As one of the weedy kids at school who couldn't kick a ball straight I OBJECT to the fact that I am not a high-earning politician. Where did I go wrong?

DON'T YOU OPEN THAT TRAP DOOR! 'cos there's somethin' down there (in an urgent whisper)

Has to be Monkey, surely? (sometimes known as Monkey Magic)- classic 70s Japanese TV drama.

Nero, Lynne Truss says it's ok so get to it with the pen! Fusion - dire! Everyone should cancel their membership so they go bust and someone else can take over.

See you there Mad World & Clare (Ally Pally). I'll be the one wearing black ;-) Saw Kraftwerk at Royal Festival Hall, that was pretty amazing (despite frumpy seating arrangement). Prince next though. Can't wait.

Arcade Fire were mindblowing at Latitude. I had a near-religious experience with everyone singing along and fireworks at the end... amazing. Seeing Interpol later in the year. They are always brilliant live, although new album is taking a while to get into.