Letter: What's the big idea?

What's the big idea?

Hamish McRae argues ("Bill or Tony: which one will history remember?",4 February) that neither Bill Clinton nor Tony Blair has yet developed the "big idea" which was so distinguishing a feature of Margaret Thatcher's administration. However, he concedes that a possible idea is now emerging based on altering people's perception as to their own enhanced responsibilities with the state, in effect, acting as an enabler rather than a provider.

The prognosis sounds very much like the Communitarianism associated with the American philosopher Amitai Etzioni, with its moral rhetoric of rights and duties. This is all very well, as far as it goes, but the problem is that the contours of state and society are so much determined by the market today that it is difficult to see how broader structural inequalities can be tackled with this type of solution.

For example, the contingent or part-time workforce in the United States (on 1988 figures) is 25 per cent of the total and fast rising - for many this means a life of insecurity, poor pay and prospects with few benefits. The UK is following a similar trajectory. The big idea, if one exists, is to transform the plight of the bottom one-third so that they can share in the prosperity of the majority. I have read or heard little from either leader which gives grounds for optimism.

RICHARD de ZOYSA

Division of Politics

South Bank University

London SE1