In Alaska, everyone receives an annual cash payment as their share of the state's oil wealth.

Children receive the same as adults so a family of four in the year 2000 received the equivalent of £5,600.

Charles Bazlinton, in his book, The Free Lunch, has explored this concept, suggesting there could be a free lunch for everyone.

He says there must be a way to loosen the grip of the "Lottery Principle". Although there have been many technological advances over the last 100 years or so, the poor are still with us.

Charles, whose background is building surveying is the clerk of Micheldever Parish Council and minute clerk for Alresford Town Council.

He was motivated to start his book seven or eight years ago when one of his daughters, seeing him making lots of notes, suggested that was what he might be doing. He said he supposed he was really - and The Free Lunch was on its way.

Charles and his wife, Peggy, have lived in Alresford for almost 30 years and they have three daughters who are all married.

"The general feeling is everything is wonderful but why do the poor still have to go cap in hand?" asks Charles.

His book contains many original ideas, such as money created free of interest and votes for children.

News affects people in different ways. The news that house prices were rising by 20% per annum brings different reactions - a sense of wellbeing for homeowners, a sense of hopelessness for those waiting their first dwelling.

Charles mentions the prophets of old. Their message almost always had the plight of the poor and disadvantaged as import elements, as the rules of the national game reverted from the "free lunch" ideals of Moses to the "lottery principle" of standard human society.

They campaigned for closer observance of the spirit of the law to benefit all the people.

Charles explores the idea of a "Citizen's Royalty" - the payment of a standard amount without means testing to every child and adult whatever their wealth status, he says would benefit the poor proportionately more than the rich.

Charles digs at the roots of problems exposing fundamental things that lurk below the surface of everyday life. He explains how poverty still endures for far too many people - and millions more just get by.

The Free Lunch was launched at a large gathering in Alresford's Edward Knight Centre.

City and town councillor, George Hollingbery, congratulated Charles and referred to the taxes we all take for granted, income tax, inheritance tax, VAT.

They all seemed inevitable but none were very old at all. Income tax was only introduced 150 years ago and VAT was only three decades old. Society had benefited enormously over the last 50 years from the redistribution of wealth, but that did not mean that the structures we had were right, he said.

Was there a real alternative? Charles's book shook our complacency, with real radical ideas, real alternatives, he added.

The Free Lunch is published by Orchard Four Books, price £9.99.