Should children vote in national elections? How much is the family worth? Is the end of class inequality in sight? Professor Ringen tackles these and other crucial questions in this engaging and provocative new work on the future of reform democracy. The role of democratic government is necessarily limited: it cannot take action which trespasses on liberty. However democratic government is also condemned to action: it cannot choose to do nothing about persistent injustice. Is there a middle ground between the double imperative of liberty and equality? Professor Ringen argues that in the areas of family and welfare policy there is. He warns against "the terrible temptation towards perfection" and argues for a notion of rationality governed by restrained self-interest, the civic spirit.