Dead end egalitarianism

A snippet from the front page of yesterday’s Evening Standard, a free London newspaper, illustrating a common form of contemporary egalitarianism. Under a banner headline reading “Take the tube to games, ministers” the introduction to the story reads:

“Ministers and top government officials should consider using the Tube instead of driving to the Olympics to help ease transport pressures on London, David Cameron signalled today.”

In other words, rather than feeling obliged to improve the transport system so it is able to handle congestion during the Olympics the governmental elite should consider using the Underground. From this perspective the key question is individual behaviour, with the elite setting an example of sacrifice, rather than how to generate more resources.