A "moral offensive" against the black economy and social security cheats lacks any moral basis so long as we maintain our amoral attitude towards current income differentials ("TV adverts to turn up the heat on dole cheats", 10 March 2000).

Why should anyone with an income of less than the average £20,000 per annum have any scruples about how they obtain it, when every day the media confronts them with the rich and famous, who have "earned" or unearned incomes (usually both) that make theirs seem very modest indeed? Or lawyers who "earn" £1000 a day. Or . . . . . The list goes on and on.

Having got used to the idea of a "minimum wage", it is now time to start thinking about 
a "maximum wage".

Ten times the average wage would be a good start.

With all those believing themselves to be worth more than the combined income of 10 nurses allowed to apply "publicly" for exemption.