Everyone agrees that the government must spend much less. And, conveniently, there are a couple of big policy areas where there is an unusual consensus on shrinking the state.

The first concerns the crisis in generational justice. Never before have affluent pensioners been more politically unpopular. The retiring first wave of baby boomers is said to have had it all: rising wages throughout their careers, free higher education, easy access to housing that then rose constantly in value, and decent final salary pensions. No wars, no serious recessions (at least for those in skilled or professional employment), and lots of sex and drugs and rock and roll.

The second is the dysfunctional social security system, which traps people on benefits and doesn’t provide the support that many need when they hit a temporary difficulty. Like the “always had it too good” baby boomer pensioners, this issue has its popular villains