accountability. As part of this new deal, every top public official should be prepared to put some of his or her pay at risk to be earned back through meeting citizens' expectations; a commitment to performance  for which the quid pro quo should be decent pay for a deserved contribution. We should seek fairness from top to bottom, with the intimate relationship between an effective, fair state and a good, fair capitalism acknowledged and implemented. We deserve no less. Well-argued article, agree with much of it. The curious thing is though that many still do see the state as the problem and not part of the solution - and no doubt some posters will seem to think that some additional regulation and state involvement is tantamount to living in a communist state, rather than this curbing the worst excesses of capitalism so that we don't end up living under one extreme ideology as opposed to another. it is no secret that wealthy, successful Will Hutton is no socialist. capitalism is based on exploitaton and is destroying our planet, crushing the environment, causing starvation and leaving many millions in poverty. Even in rich countries, millions live below the poverty line. Will wants to appear to be liberal, while at the same time, keep the capitalist class happy. Will Hutton is a beourgeois economist. I thoroughly agreed with your critique, great. But, in the final two paragraphs: "Britain's challenges require a wholly different mindset..." Too right they do. How about a mindset