Hrkn to .. Thought for the Week

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227

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Each week we reflect on key issues, drawn from a wide range of areas: economics, politics, the environment, matters of physical and/or spiritual life, and, often, the search for a more egalitarian form of capitalism — including opportunities for young people from all backgrounds to achieve their potential. We've published these commentaries as a written record since August 2017, and as an audio podcast since March 2022.  Visit https://shareradio.co.uk for more

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60 recent

August 10, 20269 min

Thought for the Week: Why we should be concerned about illiteracy

Literacy rates for young people have improved significantly over the past fifteen years following Tony Blair's call for 'Education, Education, Education'; with technical development now rising in importance, we must ensure that it holds onto the priority attached to literacy. Meanwhile Government departments, including HMRC, must ensure that their communication is accessible to all — this includes the initiative to write to young adults at 21 to tell them about their Child Trust Funds. Background music: 'Hovering Thoughts' by Spence. Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

August 3, 202613 min

Thought for the Week: Choice, Targeted Support & Inter-generational Fairness

In response to Andy Burnham's invitation to join his cross-party working group on overhauling social care arrangements throughout the United Kingdom, Sir Ed Davey called for diversity while Kemi Badenoch said it mustn't increase public spending. However there are other deep questions to answer as well: such as how to prepare people better for old age; will they be prepared to seize the opportunity to end universality and focus on targeted support, including for health care; and whether they can bring in a new focus on inter-generational rebalancing? Background Music: 'Young And Old Know Love' by Puddle of Infinity Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

July 27, 202611 min

Thought for the Week: Philanthropists must retain and provide common sense

Not surprisingly, the proposal from Gary Lineker and his millionaire colleagues for a wealth tax has been met with ridicule — Robert Colvile writing in the Sunday Times says, 'The problem isn't that those who've signed the pledge are hypocrites. It's that they're idiots'. However, there is an alternative approach which could bypass gargantuan Government spending. Donating the equivalent sum to a charity of the philanthropist's choice would enable targeted support based on the donor's analysis of need. This could provide a direct solution for the challenge of inter-generational rebalancing so that future generations are better placed to tackle national debt and future public sector payment obligations which now exceed £9 trillion. Background music: 'Intellect' by Yung Logos Share Radio webpage for links Image source: Wikipedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

July 20, 202613 min

Thought for the Week: Are individual freedom and egalitarianism incompatible?

Thomas Jefferson's claim that all are created equal with the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness attracts lip service from politicians but not much commitment: they either want to take away liberty in the pursuit of equality, or to deny that wealth polarisation results from the black hole of economics. Will Andy Burnham also turn a Nelsonian blind eye to this challenge, allowing domestic parochialism to take precedence over the search for a new way forward where all can enjoy the benefits of individual freedom and economic empowerment — a genuinely new political and economic model? Background music: 'Hopeful Freedom' by Asher Fulero Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

July 13, 202615 min

Thought for the Week: Government must open, monitor and then deliver savings accounts to break the cycle of deprivation

The wish to tackle inter-generational rebalancing — to break the cycle of deprivation — leads directly to establishing long-term savings accounts for disadvantaged young people: that's why the Child Trust Fund included an HMRC-allocated category for those children (mainly low-income) whose families didn't open accounts. However Government needs to not only open these accounts but also monitor and take steps to deliver them in order to ensure that these young adults actually receive the resources they need in order tob achieve their potential in adult life. A parliamentary event is taking place on 15th July, asking Andy Burnham to prioritise this. Background music: 'Not Forgotten' by Dan Lebowitz Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

July 6, 20269 min

Thought for the Week: Participation for all does not mean government domination

The major economic challenges confronting humanity — including the chronic and acute polarisation of wealth — are global in character, just as the major environmental issues. However, nations are too reticent to establish effective global governance to deal with them. All the signs are that Andy Burnham will take quite the opposite approach, with his emphasis on regional devolution within the United Kingdom. This is why it is so important to build awareness and debate on the merits and methodology of a global approach to egalitarian capitalism. Background music: 'The Plan's Working' by Cooper Cannell Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

June 29, 202611 min

Thought for the Week: Celebrating Independence Day with Trump Accounts

As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its independence, what better way for Donald Trump to anchor his legacy in the minds of all young people born during his presidency than granting them a $1,000 contribution when their Trump Account is opened? However, as Michael Dell and other philanthropists have shown, we need to focus on the most disadvantaged in order to break the cycle of deprivation. The Share Foundation and Share Alliance show how to do this, alongside initiatives such as this new American starter capital account. Background music: 'Everything Has a Beginning' by Joel Cummins Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

June 22, 202610 min

Thought for the Week: Leading in Uncertainty

One of the extraordinary sights in nature is starling murmurations — hundreds of thousands of birds in what looks like a co-ordinated dance, but without any central control. It can be seen as a metaphor for humanity: individual freedom means charting your own way through life, but with respect for others. As yet again we face leadership in uncertainty, politicians need to learn that we don't need them to be prescriptive about how people should live, or to run everything on their behalf. Will Andy Burnham respect individual freedom? Time will tell. Background music: 'Floating Home' by Brian Bolger Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

June 15, 202611 min

Thought for the Week: Hunt for a resolution to the UK public finance crisis

Starmer's clarion call for the 2024 General Election was 'Change', somewhat different from Tony Blair's 'Education, Education, Education'. However, in contrast to Blair's delivery in Government, Starmer has got stuck in a morass of inaction, bogged down by the crisis in public finances and an unwillingness to tackle the big issues. The biggest of these is welfare spending, major changes to which former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt recognises as the only way out of this dilemma. As we said on 26th May, it's time to call 'time' on 75 years of democratic socialism (yes, let's remember that the Conservatives tacitly went along with this also). Background music: 'Taking in The Changes' by Everet Almond Share Radio webpage for links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

June 8, 202611 min

Thought for the Week: Looking through the black hole of economics

On 29 August 2023 our commentary described the black hole of economics as its failure to recognise the opportunity to use the human life-cycle in order to empower new generations of disadvantaged young people with resources and life skills. Thanks to Cambridge University, we've now taken a major step forward with the Inter-Generational Rebalancing Conference, and it's time to plan the next stage as we move through research, education and advocacy on the journey towards implementation. Background music: 'Saving the World' by Aaron Kenny Share Alliance Conference webpage 'The Black Hole of Economics' commentary Share Radio webpage for links for this podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Hrkn to .. Thought for the Week

About the show

Listen to episodes

Thought for the Week: Why we should be concerned about illiteracy

Thought for the Week: Choice, Targeted Support & Inter-generational Fairness

Thought for the Week: Philanthropists must retain and provide common sense

Thought for the Week: Are individual freedom and egalitarianism incompatible?

Thought for the Week: Government must open, monitor and then deliver savings accounts to break the cycle of deprivation

Thought for the Week: Participation for all does not mean government domination

Thought for the Week: Celebrating Independence Day with Trump Accounts

Thought for the Week: Leading in Uncertainty

Thought for the Week: Hunt for a resolution to the UK public finance crisis

Thought for the Week: Looking through the black hole of economics

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