‘Insight’
is an independent non party political non
profit making organisation. Its broad remit
is to examine the perceived problem of an
underclass in UK society and set up a range
of policy reviews across a number of relevant
government departments.
It is the express objective of Insight not
to represent any section of society or ideological
viewpoint and to be prepared not only to ‘think
the unthinkable’ but also to solicit
the views of front line professionals and
academics whose experience and research in
this field will undoubtedly highlight the
potential drawbacks of any proposed new strategy.
Within the context of this pragmatic approach,
however, initial assumptions are as follows: |
| 1) |
We are lucky in the UK to
have political stability and a high GDP per
capita. It seems inconceivable that with the
political and economic resources available
to us we cannot address the problems associated
with an underclass within the existing broad
political and economic structure. |
| 2) |
The existence of an underclass
is first and foremost a perverse and unnecessary
tragedy for the individuals unlucky enough
to be born into it. It is also, however, the
primary cause of social problems effecting
mainstream society as well as a massive drain
on public expenditure and a huge waste of
human capital that could otherwise be contributing
to society both economically and socially. |
| 3) |
The development of the welfare
state over the last 100 years combined with
enormous changes in social attitudes has created,
despite the best of intentions, a range of
unintended incentives and disincentives that
need to be addressed in the light of their
effect on modern British society. There is
a significant section of society ghettoised
in an alternative social and economic universe
where welfare dependency, family breakdown,
educational failure, crime, drugs and an enormous
black economy combine to socially exclude
a large and expanding group of people from
mainstream society. |
| 4) |
Proposals to address these
issues will inevitably include the conceptually
simple but potentially profound reversal of
existing government intervention in the lives
of individuals. Conversely there will be areas
where carefully targeted and generously funded
government intervention is required to redress
specific social ills. ‘Insight’
will not presuppose that either ‘nanny
knows best’ or that ‘all government
is bad government’ but will attempt to
bring careful analysis and balance to all
areas of public policy under review. |
| 5) |
Underlying our work is a
broad assumption that the vast majority of
people are naturally well intentioned and
that given the right upbringing and social
environment can be given responsibility for
their own lives. Ideally the responsibility
of government is to provide an environment
in which individuals, families and communities
can flourish unaided whilst nevertheless being
alert to the need to step in and help those
that fail along the way so that they can rebuild
their lives and eventually rejoin mainstream
society. |
Insight Structure
In addition to a full time director and a
modest office there will be several non executive
directors with different areas of relevant
expertise and an advisory council of politicians,
academics and relevant professionals.
Broadly the concept is to commission and co
ordinate research from a network of students
and academics and to build a complimentary
network of individuals working in relevant
public services, charities and other NGO’s.
When a specific policy paper has been written,
circulated for comment, reviewed and finalised
we will commission any relevant opinion polls
or additional academic research that we feel
will add weight and help create public interest
and release the report to the media, government,
political parties and other interested parties
for analysis and debate.
|
