Although travelling from civilised Hong Kong into primitive and savage China in about 2000 as I did, it might not be as far from the mark as some imply. Even more so in the 60s when millions fled the… (View Post)

We give far too much overseas aid as it is. And the public overwhelmingly agree - it is by far the least poopular form of public spending. The reason these countries live in poverty these days has no… (View Post)

People living in the Caribbean now benefit hugely from slavery, as Caribbean living standards (average GDP per head $6,820) are on average much higher than those in West Africa (average GDP per head … (View Post)

Replacing the word "president" with "head of state" takes you back a further 75 years to Queen Anne (d.1714). (View Post)

On that, preparation doesn't necessarily help if it's half-baked and unrealistic. I hear from a former colleague that's in a position to know that civil servants were amazed by how her team hadn't an… (View Post)