Hi ,

The cost of living has been the top priority of up to 7 in 10 British people since the pandemic and it continues to be so today, according to new polling from More in Common. On top of that, no government has ever been felt to be doing a good job at addressing it. After a while, you have to ask the question: why can't a democratic system address this very clear demand? 

This week, a group of our friends in organisations like Tax Justice UK and the New Economics Foundation, as well as us, are launching Cost of Living Action as a new coalition campaign to demand three clear first steps: ensuring everyone has access to the income they need to live well; ensuring essentials are affordable; and rebalancing our system to more fairly tax the wealthiest.

Raising wages, guaranteeing essentials, and a fair tax system should be something that any political group could get behind, so why do we need such a large coalition to demand this? Our answer will shock you: it comes back to inequality.

We know from our own research in reports like the Spirit Level at 15 or Money, Media and Lords, as well as work like Stuart Donald's Temper Trap, that a large part of the growth in inequality since the 1980s has come with a retreat from public good. Changes made to the UK's system to sell off council housing, utilities, and public spaces created a new entrenched form of private wealth without democratic oversight. Often, our government is now renting these things back at extortionate prices – and as part of that, has given up any real power over the cost of living. 

Of course, these things should be solvable, but in refusing, our political system has also hollowed out trust in governments and political parties. Where more equal forms of electoral system might act as a release valve for these frustrations and better represent public demand, our system does a very poor job at that: the influence of unelected peers and advisors, large donors and lobbyists, and a first-past-the-past electoral system all prevent public pressure being felt by those in power.

We're part of Cost of Living Action to demand the government do something about the crisis we're in, and to demand a decent life for all. But we're also there to highlight how this is a systemic problem with extremely deep roots. We can't solve the cost of living crisis without changing the unequal economic system that allows a few very rich people to profit out of crises like this, or the inequality in our political system that allows power to ignore people. 

How should we organise for equality? What sort of organised movements have you joined? Do you think they work well?

What's the best way to organise for equality? You said:

• "Get together to change the system - from PR to party donations. If we had a more representative House of Commons, we might just give equality the attention it deserves."
  
  
• "Whenever a grassroots organisation becomes effective in fighting for fairness, people, equality, and improving the lot of the exploited, poor, homeless, unemployed and taking climate change seriously, the establishment of the day infiltrates and uses its muscle, connections to oust those intent on positive change.

  The only good unions in the UK today are small independent ones, usually set up by migrant workers, outside the TUC.

  The best way to organise for equality is for everyone who cares to support individual campaigns set up by grassroots group and people, with clear, limited, achievable and short term goals, and stay clear of politicians and trade unions, then disband after your first victory."

  
  
• "Democratically from the grass roots up. with everyone involved & every voice counting. Your Party would have been a good example, if it hadn't got off to such a terrible start."
  
  
• "Within our communities, through shared issues and goals."
  
  
• "Get together as communities: communities of cities/districts within cities, towns and villages; but also communities of workers, communities of gardeners, communities of- I don't know - petrolheads, maybe! - and strongly encourage the overlap of different communities."