Christianity and socialist values

Dear Sir,

In his otherwise excellent letter on car taxes, p40, 14th September, Peter Cuthbert says: "If one takes the moral stance (ie Christian/Socialist) that the government should promote 'the greatest good for the greatest number' (Jeremy Bentham), then we would expect them to take steps to address such inequalities."

He seems to be confusing various important issues in this statement.

The "greatest good for the greatest number" is neither a Christian or social value.

If anything, it is humanitarian defined by the OED as being concerned with the welfare of people.

Both Christianity and Socialism in my view have other values as their overriding concerns.

His letter does however espouse socialist values in as much as the poorer are less likely to drive though pay through their taxes for the majority that do.

Yours faithfully,

(DR) PETER HIRST

Middlewich.