Those who keep an eye on the ever-rotating carousel of policy theme weeks will be aware we've hit Anti-Poverty Week, capped off by the UN's Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

No doubt activists across the country marked these important events with a hearty three cheers for capitalism - the single greatest invention for reducing poverty in the history of mankind.

Just kidding. The activist message is overwhelmingly on the need for government to spend more and tax more .

For example, the Anti-Poverty Week website calls for an increase in welfare payments, stronger protections for renters, a massive increase in social housing and cuts to negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions.

In other words, many activists believe poverty is the fault of markets and the only solution is go

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