Ask the Seven

Whenever you see a story about profits, wages, housing, tax, food, trade, AI, energy or government spending, don't immediately decide whether you support or oppose it.

Ask seven questions:

DIGNITY — Are people treated well?
Can workers and affected communities live with basic dignity, or is somebody being pushed into poverty or hardship?
FREEDOM — Does it increase real opportunity?
Can people make meaningful choices, start businesses, own things and improve their lives — or are they becoming increasingly controlled or dependent?
FAIR SHARE — Who gets the prosperity?
When profits, productivity or wealth increase, do the people who helped create that prosperity benefit too?
POWER — Who gains control?
Does this spread opportunity and competition, or concentrate more economic power in a corporation, government, monopoly or tiny wealthy group?
STEWARDSHIP — What does it cost the planet?
Are environmental costs being accounted for, or are profits being created today by leaving ecological damage for everyone else tomorrow?
EXPLOITATION — Who is paying the hidden price?
Is cheap food, clothing, technology or energy possible because workers, poorer countries, communities or future generations are carrying costs we don't see?
EVIDENCE — Does it actually work?
Forget whether the proposal comes from the left, right, business or government. What does the evidence show?

Rating
🟢 Balanced — largely passes the test
🟠 Questionable — benefits exist, but there are important trade-offs
🔴 Unbalanced — prosperity is being created through exploitation, domination or significant harm

The rule

Don't ask whether it is capitalist or socialist.

Ask:

Who benefits? Who pays? Who gains power? Does it work?

Before choosing a side — Ask the Seven.

Make your Judgment

Example 1: Company makes record profits

A company announces £2 billion profit while many workers are on low wages.

Ask the Seven:

Dignity — Are workers paid enough to live reasonably?
Freedom — Do workers have genuine choices and opportunities?
Fair Share — Did employees share in the success?
Power — Is the company becoming too dominant?
Stewardship — What environmental costs were created?
Exploitation — Were workers or suppliers squeezed?
Evidence — What actually caused the profit?

Possible verdict: 🟠 Questionable

Profit is not automatically bad, but prosperity looks unbalanced if the people creating it barely benefit.

Example 2: Government announces a new green energy scheme

A government spends billions expanding renewable energy.

Ask the Seven:

Dignity — Will it make energy more affordable?
Freedom — Does it increase choice or dependency?
Fair Share — Who receives the contracts and benefits?
Power — Does it create new monopolies?
Stewardship — Does it genuinely reduce environmental harm?
Exploitation — Where are the minerals and components sourced?
Evidence — Will it actually deliver what is promised?

Possible verdict: 🟢 Balanced — if the benefits are real, fairly shared and environmentally sound.

The point is not to reach the “correct” answer.

The point is to ask better questions before choosing a side.

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The Seven Core Principles framework is intended for personal development and informational purposes and should not be considered legal, medical, financial, or psychological advice.

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