Course the problem with the system we have is that quite often the tenth bloke isn't playing his £59 or whatever. He's taking his £59, stowing it in an offshore bank account and paying about a quid off the tab. So we're £58 short and the only people actually paying what they're supposed to are the poor blokes in the middle. Also as a result, 5 out of 10 drinkers don't want the system to change so we're stuck with it. The reason the Russians had a revolution and we haven't had one is because in Russia, the four blokes at the bottom weren't getting any beer. As long as they get beer (i.e. as long as the welfare state survives) we won't have a revolution. What is lauded as the greatest socialist innovation in UK history actually does a very good job of keeping the elite in place.
Not that I'd trash the welfare state you understand - I don't think a revolution would be worth the pain, to be honest with you - I just find it amusing how it's turned out.
Jon
