Laurie Penny

Pop culture and radical politics with a feminist twist

In Cameron's Britain profit has become the new piety

Bigotry has a moral framework in 2011.

By Laurie Penny Published 12 March 2011 14:12

At what point did the denial of compassion become a morally righteous act? When homeless people are criminalised and single parents left destitute "for their own good", it's a question we need to start asking.

In a speech to the Tory party's spring conference, David Cameron laid out the "moral" case for an ideology which prioritises the wishes of business over the needs of ordinary people. Eulogising "small business owners" as modern-day Samaritans, the Prime Minister extolled the virtues of enterprise with as much pious self-satistfaction as any po-faced priest ever preached chastity.

A generation after Thatcher, with Chicago-school economics laying waste to civil society across the globe, it is apparently no longer enough to believe that greed is good. We must be persuaded that greed is virtuous.

Max Weber's protestant ethic has always provided a moral framework for capitalism, but since the meltdown of 2008, business devotees sound less like men of quiet faith and more like spittle-flecked fanatics ordering their followers not to flee the burning church. The maniacal Calvinist aunt in Blackadder insisted that cold is God's way of telling us to burn more Catholics, but Cameron may as well have declared that recession is God's way of telling us to cut more benefits.

The flipside of this fervour is the belief that anyone who does not contribute to the profit machine is somehow morally incontinent. Some on the left would like to believe that conservatives simply hate the poor. The more terrifying truth is that many of them actually believe imposing austerity measures is the moral duty of the righteous rich.

Throughout history, our worst torturers and tyrants have always been zealots, men who believe that their faith justifies any brutality.

The affluent Tory borough of Westminster, for example, has just made it illegal to distribute food to the homeless around Westminster cathedral, raising the absurdist spectre of police arresting soup kitchen workers, because their work apparently "enables" vagrancy.

This staggering doublethink imagines it a moral failing to have nowhere to live, even as benefit cuts threaten to turn millions on to the street. The problem is not a three-decade-long housing crisis: the homeless are merely insufficiently entrepreneurial, and must be punished.

In Cameron's Britain, profit has become the new piety. The unprofitable, from disabled people to single parents, are pushed to the margins just as the unchaste once were.

It is this moral mythos that permits our barely-elected ministers to tear up the Attlee settlement and condemn millions to poverty while sleeping, in their publicly funded mansions, the undisturbed sleep of the just.

Bigotry has a moral framework in 2011, and we must comprehend it to dismantle it. We need to redefine our collective morality, insisting, for example, that it is unjust for financiers to award themselves £10m bonuses while deprived schoolchildren finance their debts. It is not enough simply to chant "Tory scum". We must confront the pious rich into with the hollowness of their smug morality.

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55 comments

Sat, 2011-03-12 22:04 — Carboniferous (not verified)

Er, the final para is a complete non sequitur. What has bigotry to do with the argument being presented? What does "bigotry has a moral framework" even mean?

Sat, 2011-03-12 22:38 — gault (not verified)

'Some on the left would like to believe that conservatives simply hate the poor. The more terrifying truth is that many of them actually believe imposing austerity measures is the moral duty of the righteous rich.'

True and crucial to understand.

Sat, 2011-04-02 15:09 — John (not verified)

As a hard working employer, my tax receipts and those of the business and the team pay for all sorts of good stuff not to mention 9 people gainfully employed and not costing the state (other tax payers). Without business there is no economy.
Some get more because they add more value!

Sat, 2011-03-12 23:41 — Ash (not verified)

"Throughout history, our worst torturers and tyrants have always been zealots, men who believe that their faith justifies any brutality."

So there are no Zealots on the left?

Most of those men justified their tyranny in the interests of the poor and destitute.

Fri, 2011-07-22 07:47 — Galilea

The Chinese dont care either about our values or our somewhat biggotted view that the state should provide the lifestyle we are entitled to as a birth right even if we have not earned it. http://www.dentaljournal.org/

Mon, 2011-03-14 07:10 — Wrensense (not verified)

Very good Laurie, I see you have stirred the tory trolls, Truth is, the truth hurts.

Sun, 2011-03-13 00:46 — stuart (not verified)

we moan and groan about how bad we have it in the uk,then i read in the guardian today,that 3000 children alone were swept to there deaths in the this horrific earthqake disaster in one city in japan,,i feel so humbled that i live a life free from these horrors that afflict the rest of he world living in the uk,, i feel so humbled..

Wed, 2011-03-23 22:40 — Matt (not verified)

SMEs employ more than 14 million people in the UK.
They are, of course, all greedy, evil, bigoted Tory scum.
All of them. Everyone.

Sun, 2011-03-13 02:26 — stuart (not verified)

this song sums up the great anti cuts demo om march the 26th, when the working classes martyrs will rise up against there haters once and for all..http://www.youtube.com/user/adelelondon?blend=2&ob=4..we have been silent for to long now are time has come,clegg and cameron...

Sun, 2011-03-13 03:04 — stuart (not verified)

be in no doubt cameron and clegghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzNjmIWbns4.we will rise up against your evil spending cuts,,that is a promise..

Mon, 2011-03-14 13:08 — T-Gos (not verified)

'...arent we in a rapidly hardening global competitive market with a weakened UK economy? The Chinese dont care either about our values or our somewhat biggotted view that the state should provide the lifestyle we are entitled to as a birth right even if we have not earned it. Its going to get a lot tougher for people before the economy can afford the nice treats a large public sector can provide'

You mean the lifestyle you can 'earn' by being born into unbridled privilege? Maybe some day you could even become Chancellor with a 2:1 degree in History.

Sun, 2011-03-13 10:27 — Luddite (not verified)

stuart. Labour should be honest enough to say if it had won last May it too would be doing much the same in order to balance the books. Of course the party will never do that because it was Labour that let the deficit get out of control during it's disastrous 13 year's in government. Needless to say you would put all the blame on the banks. Just ponder this. Under Brown's chancellorship, regulation was reduced on the banks, freeing them to make more profits. Increased profits means increased taxes, with many banks in the good times paying upwards of £4 billion each in corporation tax. That's just the corporation tax. A bonus pool of £1 billion would again generated £400 million in tax. The truth is, Gordon Brown didn't care what the banks were doing as long as them tax receipt kept rolling in.

Sun, 2011-03-13 10:59 — The Luddite (not verified)

'In Cameron's Britain profit has become the new piety' So what would you have us do Miss Penny, force every business make a loss. Then who Miss Penny would pay for your liberal-left agenda. Money doesn't grow on trees young women, wealth is generated and profit the incentive.

Sun, 2011-03-13 11:42 — Hugh (not verified)

Such tired ranting.

Sun, 2011-03-13 12:56 — Daniele1

Yes and Gorson Brown is also responsible for America's, Japan's, France's , Greece's .....deficits.
If only we had had a Tory government at the time, there would have been no deficit and no bank crisis because we all know how the Tories like regulations especially on banks.
Don't you guys ever tire of talking complete bullocks??
Cameron can't even tell the banks not to give themselves, STILL, obscene bonuses, but no fear, he would have controlled their excesses, if only...Cameron the posh boy had been in charge..all would be well.

Sun, 2011-03-13 13:59 — Indu Pendent (not verified)

@Daniele: "Gorson Brown is also responsible for America's, Japan's, France's , Greece's .....deficits."

Actually, Gordon, Tony and those who supported them old take blame for the UK's deficit.

http://www.debtbombshell.com/

Sun, 2011-03-13 14:29 — Sam (not verified)

Luddite - can you not call Laurie Penny a liberal please. She's the complete opposite and is either a commie or a socialist.

Sun, 2011-03-13 14:40 — Daniele1

Oh and don't forget to also call Laurie "a bigot, racist, anti-Semitic, fascist".
You guys love labelling people don't you?

Sat, 2011-03-12 14:26 — Laurie Penny1

Yes there was a clash with Johann's piece and mine which is why this has been delayed and swayed a little in tone!

Sat, 2011-03-12 14:35 — Simon H (not verified)

Really fantastic article. Good analysis.

Sat, 2011-03-12 14:46 — Karaspita (not verified)

Max Weber's protestant ethic has always provided a moral framework for capitalism

I think this is rather poorly phrased. The protestant ethic is not Weber's idea or his fault, he was simply the first one to draw a link between it and capitalism. But this is an editorial quibble rather than one about the thrust of the article - I agree with what you say. For some years there has been a groundswell of hatred and despisal aimed at the poor, and the current government are merely provising a disastrously tangible expression of it.

Sat, 2011-03-12 14:50 — Daniele1

Absolutely spot on, Laurie! Eat the rich!
At the moment, the News have become so full of irony but I bet you the presenters do not even realise as they don't batter an eyelid.
One minute they are talking about the absolute necessity to reduce the deficit by cutting public service jobs, get rid of libraries, public toilets... and reduce all benefits. The next minute we are told about the latest obscene bonus some bloody banker has awarded himself, despite the fact that his bank hasn't made a profit yet ("but the loss was not as great as last year!")
Then some banking "expert" is rolled out to tell us that bankers need to be "properly rewarded" if we want the banks to recover from the crisis.Because apparently these bastards wouldn't get up in the morning without the promise of a few million quid.
And STILL, I hear people who have evidently swallowed the lie that the cuts are unavoidable and that the whole crisis is the fault of the generosity of the Welfare state.
So Laurie is right, there is something else going on. They have actually persuaded people that the cuts are actually ,not just necessary but a good thing,like some kind of some puritanical purge which is going to cleanse the country of idleness and comfort and force the lazy poor (read the vulnerable) to stand on their own 2 feet.
What a coup!
It is a very protestant puritan approach to life, devoid of charity and compassion, cruel and sterile.The rich, with their politician helpers, have replaced the church to tell the little people that suffering is good for you and that they must repent their sins (enjoying too many benefits)and obey their betters.
When are the little people revolting ? It doesn't look promising.

Wed, 2011-03-09 13:30 — Des Demona (not verified)

Excellent! More please.

Sat, 2011-03-12 14:55 — Laurie Penny1

Karaspita- yeah, that's a knock on effect of trying to cut a 1,200 word article down to 520 :). Also, I miss you, when are we making soup? X

Wed, 2011-03-09 13:31 — sianushka (not verified)

well said. i'd also recommend Johann Hari's piece in the independent on this issue from last week.

Wed, 2011-03-09 13:31 — Des Demona (not verified)

Excellent article.More please.

Sat, 2011-03-12 15:10 — Stephen Felce (not verified)

I totally agree with article. While preferring the enterprise society to the nanny state, recent events leading up to the credit crunch have shown just how dangerous unbridle capitalism is. There are always going to be excesses, so we need regulation to contain it. However, regulation in Britain has proven to be only token so we have the absurd situation of needing regulators to regulate the regulators - those such as the FSA and Bank of England who fiddled as the City began to burn. And to say, as Gordon Brown did, that our cruinch was made in the USA is untrue. It is worth noting that the USA allowed foreign banks operating there to draw on the bail out fund initially set aside and that British banks (if my sources are accurate) accounted for one quarter of this

One of the dangers of younger politicians leading the government is their lack of wisdom, so one cannot be sure if Cameron’s exaggerated leaning towards industry and profit is because of conviction or ignorance. On he other hand, he talks of the Big Society but then goes all out to destroy it.

I recently wrote to my MP inviting him to pass my letter onto David Cameron with his endorsement, even better to all MPs regardless of their political persuasion. Here are an abridged version of it:

We are told that the majority agree with the Government addressing the deficit with stern conviction. However, the challenge for them is to correct the deficit but to do so with such energy, skill and painstaking attention to detail that the stock of the Tories and even the Lib Dems goes up by the time of the next General Election, not to allow it to sink the Government as has just been dispatched to the last ruling party in Eire.

An article on 1st March on the BBC web site says "A key element of the government's NHS reform programme has been branded "disgracefully unethical" by the British Medical Association (BMA)."

I am disgusted with what I learn with alarming frequency about the coalition, the NHS in particular, where cuts to address the deficit are hardly thought through or not at all.

There is no gain without pain so expecting recovery of the economy without pain just is not going to happen but to single out student for a 200% hike and heavy indebtedness is morally indefencible. I have written to you about that more than once before.

To put lives at risk and to abuse the elderly by not giving them respite and leave some to die in agony as shown in Dispatches last night where simple medication would have avoided that is cruel beyond belief.

To be realistic, this is not what is happening because of our debt. But, on the other hand, this kind of criminal neglect at the one extreme or simply having to call the NHS to make an appointment with ones' doctor where no doubt a mindless beaurocrat will give the run around.

The coalition’s measures show a complete disregard for the quality of life. That also needs the attention of Secretaries of State and Ministers. Let's have cutbacks but not as the excuse to allow this kind of neglect running parallel with it but not inevitable because of them.

Sun, 2011-03-13 17:23 — Luddite (not verified)

No!! Daniele. It's the political-left, that likes labelling people .

Sat, 2011-03-12 15:12 — ACMJ

David Cameron's philosophy was made very clear when during one of his pre- election speeches , he compared running the country like running Sainsburys(sound similar to certain sacked Tory PM who compared running the country to running M&S ?).

Sat, 2011-03-12 15:39 — Indu Pendent (not verified)

No one wants unbridled greed to take hold ... but

... arent we in a rapidly hardening global competitive market with a weakened UK economy? The Chinese dont care either about our values or our somewhat biggotted view that the state should provide the lifestyle we are entitled to as a birth right even if we have not earned it. Its going to get a lot tougher for people before the economy can afford the nice treats a large public sector can provide.

Apart from unbridled government borrow and spending which got us to where we are whats the real world 2011 alternative?

Fri, 2011-03-25 21:24 — Benjamin Rae (not verified)

Very articulate concise piece of writing.

Sat, 2011-03-12 16:16 — Sam (not verified)

Laurie Penny advertised an internship at below the minimum wage and she has the cheek to diss SMEs.

Why does Laurie Penny insist on taking us for mugs?

P.S what was the philosophy that most of the world's tyrants tended to follow?

Sat, 2011-03-12 16:17 — Alex W (not verified)

Excellent article. More of the same please. Media has gone a little quiet on 'cut' to the poor. As a disabled pauper I live in fear of the Tory benefit cuts. A couple of years down the line it could be me on the street, bowl in hand, "Please Sir, can I have some more"?

Sat, 2011-03-12 16:29 — Traitorfish (not verified)

One of your best, Laurie!

Sun, 2011-03-13 18:55 — J Rodolfo (not verified)

Indu Pendent, can you please define what it means to "earn a lifestyle"?

Sat, 2011-03-12 16:51 — Elly (not verified)

Very well said. Thank you, Laurie. :-)

Sat, 2011-03-12 16:59 — Chris Bergin (not verified)

Some of the best arguements against all this vanadlism are to be found on the Taxresearch.org.uk Richard Murphy's explanations are readily understandable even by lay people with no tax or accounts experience.

Sat, 2011-03-12 17:22 — ang (not verified)

From day one, this Govt has attacked the weakest. Children, disabled, benefit recipients, but have left the rich unscathed. It is the nature of a bully to pick on the weakest, as they are unlikely to resist. Tories are bullies and Cameron is head bully.
I have to say though, that if the media had not gone with the idea that 'the cut's were unavoidable because of Labour's mess',the Govts lame, blame game may not have got off the ground. It was pathetic how the news channels fell for this, no questions asked, how pathetic they are!
The tide is beginning to turn though, as the public are wising up to Posh Dave and his friends. People are using alternative types of media, arming them with different ideas and enabling them to make informed decisions.

Sun, 2011-03-13 19:46 — Gabe (not verified)

This article reminds me of this terrifying speech from the film Network (and in my opinion, unfairly looked over for the more famous "Mad as Hell" speech).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI5hrcwU7Dk

"And our children will live, Mr Beale, to see that ... perfect ... world in which there is no war nor famine, oppression or brutality. One vast and ecumenical holding company for whom all men will work to serve a common profit. In which all men will hold a share of stock.

"All necessities provided. All anxieties tranquilized. All boredom amused."

Sat, 2011-03-12 18:55 — pajh (not verified)

Excellent, Laurie. Very well said.

Sat, 2011-03-12 18:57 — Luddite (not verified)

No one is destitute in this county!!

Sat, 2011-03-12 19:59 — michaelpetek

"We need to redefine our collective morality, insisting, for example, that it is unjust for financiers to award themselves £10m bonuses while deprived schoolchildren finance their debts."

Why should they listen to "us"? They've got lots of money, and we haven't. So there.

In their moral universe, such as it is, anyone who neither makes money nor is of use to anyone who does is a useless eater who ought to be Final Solutioned.

Wed, 2011-03-23 15:23 — Mick (not verified)

I think you're ace, Laurie, but I have one issue and its the same issue with most writers on the left and it frustrates me. Why do you all seem to think that anyone with opinions to the right of yours are murderous psycopaths? I believe us on the left need to work on our tone. Do we want change or do we just want a fight? If we want change we need people on your side. In my (perhaps naive) view, people are generally nice and respond well to nice people. We need to change our tone and stop calling everyone who disagrees with us a total c*nt.

Sat, 2011-03-12 21:11 — Luddite (not verified)

Pat Condell latest rant against islamofascism YOUTUBE.