This website has been set up to encourage a dialogue to discuss the way that we currently organise our society.

Many New Zealanders have serious difficulties in finding jobs, getting enough to live on, providing a stimulating environment for their children and experiencing a rewarding life for themselves. For many others, all these come easily and the assumption is that hard work will result in monetary wealth, good education for children and long life and happiness.

For both of these ends of the spectrum, the infrastructure that we provide as a society is crucial. This means that we all benefit from a stable society, reliable governance, security and honest policing, a reliable justice system and health and education systems that are available for all members of society.

Following WW II, New Zealand took the lead in developing a societal system that included all members and was based on the realisation that all members of society contribute to a greater or lesser degree. In the 1980s, we, like many other western countries changed radically to a system in which commercial markets were seen to be the answer to society's problems and could provide all that was necessary for society to flourish.

Recent major shocks to the world economy have shown that not all is well with this approach and there is a need to rethink how we organise our society for the benefit of all in it.

This blog is an attempt to genuinely discuss the main options for us and get, the views of the widest possible range of people from all walks of life and not just the most influential.  

All articles published on the site will be moderated only in so far as to avoid obscene and offensive comments.     The emphasis will also be on ideas that are supported by logical argument and a basis of evidence.

George Salmond is a public health physician experienced in research, teaching and management in the public health sector. Currently he is particularly interested in health inequalities and in public health and mental health service innovations and initiatives that engage both government and non government organisations.