12 JANUARY 1985, Page 18

Waldenism

Sir: Your article (Politics, 5 January) has interesting overtones of another Walden. Thoreau was an unenthusiastic taxpayer, and was honest enough to ask the state for nothing in return. Nor was he much of a striver: 'It is not necessary that a man should earn his living by the sweat of his brow, unless he sweats easier than I do.' George Walden

House of Commons, London SW1