"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!