Moral poverty and the Archangel of Arrogance

There’s been a sudden wintry chill in the weather here in south east England. I lay in bed the other night anticipating the winter and reflecting that I have a home that is reasonably efficient, I can keep warm and I expect to have enough to eat. Many thousands won’t, but I’m lucky. It’s a series of chances in my life – a few of which I may have been able to capitalise on to a small extent – that gives me relative comfort compared to those who are not lucky.

I then wondered why some people attribute their own fortune to their own merit. Many people on the right probably lie in bed thinking ‘I deserve this, I’ve earned it. And those who don’t have a warm home and good food at their table simply don’t deserve it.’ It seems odd, but this attitude is commonly expressed in the media coming directly from the present government.

Is there any articulated attitude that more clearly represents true arrogance?

Step forward the Archangel of Arrogance, to provide a resonant example. Michael Gove, secretary of state for education, a man who is not best able to manage his thoughts, has been talking about people who use food banks:

"I had the opportunity to visit a food bank in my constituency only on Friday and I appreciate that there are families who do face considerable pressures.

"It's often as a result of some decisions that have been taken by those families which mean that they are not best able to manage their finances.”

This is arrogance of the highest order, the kind that allows the proponent to claim authority on all sorts of matters at a whim. In this case it shines with moral zeal, it glistens with the oleaginous self-satisfaction of the true ideological dangerman, bent on the refeudalisation of England.

And finally, a little moral coda. Seeking wider coverage of this story, I went to the Telegraph website and entered ‘michael gove food banks’ into the search box. Well you never know, they might have reported his riposte. This is what I was offered:

Food and drink homepage

www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/wine/

Comments

[Rmlondon]

So Michael Gove joins Jeremy Hunt earlier this week in "Anecdote-led policymaking" a popular Tory front-bench approach which appears to continue without embarrasment.(see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/10296418/Jeremy-Hunt-A-single-reform-that-can-sustain-our-NHS.html)

Knowing his interest in all things "traditionally British" I hope The Minister for Education will be delighted to hear that one of my local primary schools in north London is reinstating the "Harvest Festival" this autumn. Pupils mark nature's bounty as the seasons change by each bringing to school a contribution of food.

Mr Gove however may be less delighted to discover that the practice has been re-instated specifically to help out a local foodbank which is almost overwhelmed by the desperate need of families it sets out to suppport.

Yes Mr Gove, that is a moral response and a traditionally British one. Reaching out to support those less able to support themselves - sharing and giving - coming together to aggregate assistance. So, as a result of "some decisions made" ... by the headteacher, staff and the families at the school ... collective support will help sustain our neighbours who use the local foodbank. ...

In Britain, in 2013, in the capital of the seventh richest country in the world, primary school kids are feeding their neighbours - whilst a goverment minister brays moralising platitudes from the sidelines.

[Kevin Harris]

Thanks for this Richard. The only word I'd add is 'shamelessly' to your last clause. They all seem so proud of their brazen lack of compassion.