Sir, - The Coalition intends to "share prosperity". Let them have the courage to say they will do so by giving and taking an unconditional basic income, which they know is within their reach.
If they can spare a few hours to read Richard G. Wilkinson's Unhealthy Societies, the afflictions of inequality, they will find a survey of research far and wide, past and present, showing that it is the width of the gap between richest and poorest that matters. Whether a country is rich or poor, if the differences in income are moderate, health, life expectancy, children's height, behaviour, reading ability, accident rate, are satisfactory. With evident inequality and exclusion come, as we can see, an increase in crime and violence and a poorer quality of life for all, not just the worst off. Yours, etc.,
Whitechurch Road,
Dublin 4.