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In addition, lower income earners now receive much greater income supplements than in the earlier period.

I grew up in a poor, single-parent family in Britain’s post-war austerity years. I think that very few of the Australia poor in 2005 would have a living standard comparable to mine at that time. Most of my adult life, I’ve been fairly comfortably off, except for several years when I did a lot of unpaid charity work. Now, following several years with three concurrent serious illnesses, my income is low (Disability Support Pension), although I am not poor. But while I’ve always helped those in need, I’ve never felt that that income inequalities, which arise from many causes, have been a predominant issue.

Re comments by some posters on early childhood and the home environment, US research has found that many programs of early-childhood intervention have very high rates of return both for the individuals/families concerned and for society. I have argued in Queensland Governemnt policy circles, for example, that such programs have far more merit and empirical support than using the funds to extend compulsory secondary education. The Smith Family concentrates research efforts in this area, their strategy is to enhance such early interventions rather than go on about inequality. I suggest that Vinnies check out The Smith Family work in this area, which seems far more likely to achieve long-term reductions in poverty.

But still you cannot deny that inequlty of income would lead to inequality of opportunity in a user payes society.

No amount of topping up of income by government payments will empower families to break free of their lack of opportunity.

They need encouragment and actual support. What we need a plan that allows households exit out structural barriers to achieve their potenital. Without the balme, value judgments and myopic views of some.

Would you like to go bowling on you own?

Remeber that economics is only an a theoretical explanation of the social world.