6.3. A FAIR SOCIETY

6.3. A FAIR SOCIETY

6.3.1

Listening

Translate the text. Underline and learn the new

vocabulary.

‘Equality of opportunity in the twentieth century has not

destroyed the class system’

These days we hear a lot of nonsense about the ‘great classless society’. The idea that the twentieth century is the age of the common man has become one of the great clichés of our time. The same old arguments are put forward in evidence. Here are some of them: monarchy as a system of government has been completely discredited. The monarchies that survive have been deprived of all political power. Inherited wealth has been savagely reduced by taxation and, in time, the great fortunes will disappear altogether. In a number of countries the victory has been complete. The people rule; the great millennium has become a political reality. But has it? Close examination doesn’t bear out the claim.

It is a fallacy to suppose that all men are equal and that society will be leveled out if you provide everybody with the same educational opportunities. (It is debatable whether you can ever provide everyone with the same educational opportunities, but that is another question.) The fact is that nature dispenses brains and ability with a total disregard for the principle of equality. The old rules of the jungle, ‘survival of the fittest’, and ‘might is right’ are still with us. The spread of education has destroyed the old class system and created a new one. Rewards are based on merit. For ‘aristocracy’ read ‘meritocracy’; in other respects, society remains unaltered: the class system is rigidly maintained.

Genuine ability, animal cunning, skill, the knack of seizing opportunities, all bring material rewards. And what is the first thing people do when they become rich? They use their wealth to secure the best possible opportunities for their children, to give them ‘a good start in life’. For all the lip-service we pay to the idea of equality, we do not consider this wrong in the western world. Private schools which offer unfair advantages over state schools are not banned because one of the principles in a democracy is that people should be free to choose how they will educate their children. In this way, the new meritocracy can perpetuate itself to a certain extent: an able child from a wealthy home can succeed far more rapidly than his poorer counterpart. Wealth is also used indiscriminately to further political ends. It would be almost impossible to become the leader of a democracy without massive financial backing. Money is as powerful a weapon as ever it was.

In societies wholly dedicated to the principle of social equality, privileged private education is forbidden. But even here people are rewarded according to their abilities. In fact, so great is the need for skilled workers that the least able may be neglected. Bright children are carefully and expensively trained to become future rulers. In the end, all political ideologies boil down to the same thing: class divisions persist whether you are ruled by a feudal king or an educated peasant.

6.3.2

Vocabulary

Translate into Russian:

1. Do you remember the old cliché that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link? 2. Some of formally popular economic theories have now been discredited. 3. The Minister’s remarks were taken out of context in an effort to discredit him. 4. To be deprived of all political power doesn’t mean to be deprived of any political influence. 5. Close examination doesn’t bear out the claim. 6. Nothing is so ridiculous but custom may bear it out. 7. He was rewarded according to his merits, although he had had a late start. 8. It is a fallacy to think that meritocracy can be self-perpetuating. 9. The ombudsman system safeguards the rights of an individual.

Activate

Complete the following word-combinations

from memory:

1. educational _______

2. brains and ________

3. with a total _______

4. survival of _______

5. genuine ________

6. animal _________

7. the principle of _______

Synonyms

Give the words related to:

Opposites

Supply the words with opposite meaning

6.3.3

Definition

Explain the meaning of the following:

1. For all the lip-service we pay to the ideas of equality, the society is far from being perfect. 2. The new meritocracy can perpetuate itself to a certain extent. 3. Wealth is also used indiscriminately to further political ends. 4. All political ideologies boil down to the same thing. 5. The society will never be leveled out. 6. Nature dispenses brains unequally. 7. The class system is rigidly maintained. 8. The least able may be neglected. 9. Social welfare systems have become widespread.

Practice

Make up short situations with:

6.3.4

Interaction

Using vocabulary from the text and counter-

arguments below, make up dialogues

presenting different points of view.

The counter-argument: key words

What is criterion of classless society? Freedom to compete for any position.
Impossible under old hereditary class system.
Quite possible today: a truly classless society.
External things (possessions, manner of dress, accent, behaviour, etc.) count for little.
Ability is the important thing.
This hasn’t created a new class: no rigid divisions in society.
Impossible for meritocracy to be self-perpetuating.
Social welfare systems widespread: east and west.
Social services available in many countries: health, education, pensions, etc.
Rights of individual safeguarded: e.g. Ombudsman system in some countries.
Difficult for individual to become rich because of tax laws.
Surviving ‘privileges’ (monarchies, private schools, etc.) under constant attack.
Our age is age of common man: his voice is the most powerful; Trade Unions, etc.
Highest ideals in our time: to further the common good, not the interest of a small class.

Discussion

Discuss the following:

Do you think that we live in a class society?
What are the principles of class division in our society, if there are any?
Do external things count for much?
Do you agree that the common good should be above the interest of a small class?
The interests of what class or group of people are better secured in our society?
What should be done in order to combat class inequality in the society, in your opinion?

6.3.5

Vocabulary

Read the text and find as many reasons as

possible why the statements below are false.

The Government’s policy has met with only a little opposition.
The Government is prepared to show flexibility.
The Government will lose the vote on Wednesday.
There is no crisis.

MPs UP IN ARMS AS PM TRIES TO PLAY DOWN CRISIS

There was a strong public outcry yesterday when the Government announced its intention to cut public expenditure on health and education. Opposition MPs were up in arms when the statement was read out in the Commons and immediately called for an emergency debate on Wednesday. Nigel Smith, a member of the Opposition, was particularly outspoken in his criticism of the Government.

‘The time has come for all of us to stand up for what we believe in. Our party stands for better health and education in this country, and we will do everything in our power to step up pressure on the Government and force them to back down. We must speak out against this policy and make it clear that it is unacceptable.’

A member of the Cabinet, speaking on behalf of the Government, ruled out any change in policy. ‘The Government is not going to climb down over this issue. There will be no U-turns. We have made the right decision and we are going to stick to it.’

However, the outcome of Wednesday’s vote is by no means certain as several Government MPs are refusing to back their own party. Some political commentators are predicting the downfall of the Government or a politically embarrassing climb-down. What is certain is that if the Opposition win the vote, it will be a serious setback for the Prime Minister and could bring down the Government. There has been mounting criticism of the Government’s performance recently, and now the Prime Minister himself is coming under fire from members of his own party. Last night he tried to play down the seriousness of the situation. When asked about the crisis, he replied: ‘Crisis? What crisis? There is no crisis.’

6.3.6

Definition

Match the multi-word verbs with their definitions.

1. to call for something

a. to increase or intensify the speed, degree,

quantity or quality of something

2. to stand up for someone /

something

b. to continue to support something, not

abandon or change it

3. to stand for something

c. to defend someone / something that is

under attack

4. to step something up

d. to express your views forcefully and

publicly

5. to back down / climb down

(over something)

e. to represent certain ideas or attitudes

6. to speak out (against something)

f. to make something appear less important

than it really is

7. to stick to something

g. to demand something

8. to bring someone / something

down

h. to cause someone / something to lose power

or to be defeated

9. to play something down

i. to admit you are wrong in an argument or

dispute and agree to do what someone wants

you to do

Drills

Listen to the sentences. Use prompts you hear to

make sentences with the same meaning.

Word Use

Use the verbs from the boxes in the newspaper

extracts:

Yesterday, the Opposition claimed it is the only party that represents social justice and the needs of ordinary people. They have increased pressure on the Government recently by demanding a general election this simmer. They believe they will defeat the Government unless it admits it is wrong over its new economic policy.

Despite pressure from the Opposition, the Government has announced it will not withdraw its new economic policy. They say they will continue with the policy because it is the right one. Several political commentators believe the Government is trying to make the crisis appear less serious than it really is. If the economic situation does not improve soon, some Government MPs may begin to criticize their own party openly.

6.3.7

Collocation

Which of the words can be used with these

multi-wordverbs?

1. We want to bring down _______ .

a. this corrupt regime b. this football team c. this new law d. this building project

2. We will step up _________.

a. security b. our election campaign c. taxes d. expenditure

Correction

Correct the sentences below:

Our political party speaks out against equality and justice. We will never be afraid to standup for corruption and inequality. We will always play down the weakest members of society. We want the government to stick to its policy of cutting expenditure on health and education. The government has tried to step up the present crisis by saying the situation isn’t very serious, but we know what the truth is. That is why we are climbing down over an immediate general election.

Meaning

Explain the meaning of nouns and adjectives that

come from multi-word verbs. Use them in the

sentences.

a. a strong public outcry

b. he was particularly outspoken in his criticism

c. the outcome of Wednesday’s vote

d. the downfall of the Government

e. a politically embarrassing climb-down

f. a serious setback for the Prime Minister

She’s a very _______ critic of the government. She’s not afraid to say what she thinks.
What do you think will be the ________ of the general election?
There was a general ________ when the government announced its intention to reduce pensions.
Nobody was sorry to see the ________ of the dictator.
Although the minister said he would not abandon his policy, he was finally forced into a humiliating _______.
The poor results in the local elections have been a serious _______ for the government.

6.3.8

Down

The particle down can be used with some verbs to

give the idea of either defeat or suppression. Say

which idea is being expressed in the following

sentences, or whether it is the mixture of both.

E.g. The scandal eventually brought down the government. (defeat)

The government is trying to hold down inflation. (suppression)

The proposal was voted down at the meeting.
The management has climbed down in its negotiations with the unions.
The police are going to crack down on drug pushers.
The army was called in to put down the rebellion.
She tried to make her opinion known but she was shouted down.

Interaction

Find your own examples of phrasal verbs with the

particle ‘down’. Make up a dialogue or a situation

using as many expressions from this exercise as

possible.

6.3.9

Translation

Give a literary translation of the following

extracts. What related social problems and ways to

solve them can you think of?

The number of shambling, drug-addicted, psychotic denizens of the streets had increased steadily since the late 70s, when most of the mentally ill had been freed from sanitariums in the name of civil liberties and compassion. They roamed America’s cities, championed by politicians but untended, an army of living dead.
Sometimes a government or a bureau within a government becomes frustrated when it has to play by the rules. With oceans of tax money washing around, with bookkeeping systems that would be laughable in any private enterprise, it’s easy for some government officials to find covert organizations to achieve results that can’t be achieved through legal means.
The commission licensed all casinos in the state and enforced the laws and regulations that governed them. Anyone who wished to invest – or serve as an executive – in the gaming industry was required to submit to a background investigation, and to be proved free of ties to known criminals. In the 1970s a strengthened commission squeezed out most of the mobsters and Mafia front men who had founded Nevada’s biggest industry, in favour of companies like Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Hilton Hotels.

6.3.10

Speaking

Work out your Party’s Manifesto to the coming

general election. Include the urgent issues of

the current economic and political situation;

underline the prospects of the country’s

development in case your Party comes to

power.

6.3.11

Writing

Write the letter of complaint to your MP. You

think the Government has broken all its election

promises.