If we wanted, we could reinvent how we live in cities, how we associate, how we travel and how we work, a step-change in what urban life means, and which the budget's measures might serve. Instead, the measures seem micro and crabby, passing a sceptical Treasury official's test but not a citizen's. But we should celebrate the good. What we are now witnessing economically is unique. Investment is the highest it has been for 30 years.
Unemployment is set to drop below a million.
And as we brace ourselves for a probable Bush presidency featuring advisers such as Marvin Olasky, who wants mandatory welfare substituted by faith communities distributing voluntary charity, Britain does have a progressive government. Gordon Brown declared five aims at the beginning of the pre-budget report which are worth repeating. By 2010, the government wants to have halved child poverty, enlisted a majority of children in higher education, achieved a faster rate of productivity growth than our competitors, got record numbers into employment and secured strong and dependable public services. Given its fiscal strength, Labour just might achieve these five ambitions. The Chancellor could have done better, but it is still more than good enough.