Funnily enough, the East India Company sank into insolvency quite soon after it started to rule, as opposed to just trading. The cost of maintaining a large standing army was ruinous. I think that th… (View Post)

@JosiasJessop I don’t think that wars of conquest have been cost-effective, for a very long time now. Plunder economics provides a one-off gain, and that’s it. Trading with other nations provides a r… (View Post)

I have to admit, it was rather bizarre, the last time I visited the IWM, to see an exhibition dedicated to anti-war movements in the UK and CND. Whereas the point of the place is surely rearranging t… (View Post)

In Rowling's shoes, I think my response would be cold indifference. (View Post)

I'm flying from my least favourite airport, Stanstead, next week, on the way to the Isonzo. (View Post)