The size of the welfare state is a poor measure of its value.
Sometimes critics of the welfare state seem to be against the welfare state, but it often turns out that they are really offering different visions of the welfare state.
The idea of citizenship does not belong to any one political theory. If taken seriously it would temper the extreme and anti-democratic nature of all the main political theories.
Passport-Citizenship is a corruption of citizenship - it empties citizenship of its real value. Citizenship is a critical moral ideal and is essential to the development of a fair society.
It is hard to imagine the kind of oppression that makes the camp or the institution welcome.
We should not be afraid of the language of entitlements for entitlements give meaning to the idea of rights.
Reflections on Les Murray's poem Dog Fox Field
Reflections on the wisdom of Jane Addams
Helping our neighbours is always a matter of justice and, as Jesus reminds us, our neighbours are not necessarily those we'd expect.
Political philosophers rarely assert the value of this right - the right to be different.
Life is freedom and freedom is diversity and the refusal to submit to the order defined by the powerful.
We always have a choice - although sometimes the price is everything.
An aphorism
Robert Nozick's reputation as a Right-wing thinker disguises some very interesting observations on the importance of a diversity of values.
The reality of citizenship as a moral ideal may be visible anywhere; but ultimately citizenship demands political, public, recognition.
Reflections on Dante's vision of equality
Much of the harm, crime and injustice we face has been driven important political decisions. But we must be careful not to forget our capacity for freedom and revolution,
Meeting basic need is important, but it is essential to also respect our innate dignity and integrity.
Independence is a confused goal. We need other people and we need to be free to express ourselves in cooperative action with others.
Some institutions nurture us in our freedom; others kill our capacity for freedom and replace it with death-like certainty.
Dante put Pride at the foot of Mount Purgatory for a good reason; pride is almost impossible to defeat and the root of all evil.
More planning always seems like a good idea, but unless you are really in control planning can easily become corrupted.
Justice should include liberty. Our right to live a life that makes sense and is rooted in our own desires, gifts and capacities requires the exercise of personal freedom. The state cannot live our life for us.
It is not God, love, personhood or the soul that are imaginary. These are the real things.