Edward Gibbon Wakefied knew things. He knew that if he abducted and married two wealthy heiresses he’d be better off.

Well, for a while, anyway.

They caught up with him for his second abduction.

While he was in Newgate prison, he had another idea: If wealthier people sold land at impossibly high land prices they’d have a quite supine workforce; you know, heads down, bums up, trying to afford a home.

We called his idea “The Wakefield Scheme”.

Australian politicians are now firmly committed to seeing that the tax regime works for Wakefield’s idealistic ends.

~~~

I’m not at all sure about that, Bryan!