A reply to Fairness, generosity and conditionality in the welfare system: the case of UK disability benefits by Johnson and Nettle: Inequality and existential threat

Johnson and Nettle initially focus upon the detail of policy changes and argue that these changes may seem sensible to a social primate reflexively applying tribal scale psychology. This is a commentary upon policy makers. But later they shift their attention to a broader constituency, those to whom policy makers are appealing and those campaigning to change policy. In concluding comments, the authors state that their thesis could be coupled with a broader account of societal change, that might offer a richer interpretation of change, and it is to this idea that the current commentary is addressed.