Seems the government isn't too concerned with it's popularity, while it pares down the massive debt this country is staggering under.. New tax laws indicate that theww quarters of a million British workers will shoulder a new burden with the new levee due to start on the 5th of April. The averale family, or for that matter singles, will pay £200 more p.a. to support this austerity move..
A bitter pill for those who voted LibDem.. One wonders what effect that will have come the next election, for certainly, it will get worse.
Just as a side note, those less fortunate, some 250 thousand, will payless tax..

Egypt continue to be a problem.
One indication has been the increase in the price of oil.. soon to be reflected in British homes as they grow colder, and British motorists who will soon be paying £4 per gallon.. And that figure will also rise..

One of the basic problems with globalisation, is the lack of attention to those countries outside the EU, and the West in general. We are living in a society that polarizing the rich and the poor. A sweet sixteen party for a wealthy girl can cost upwards of $100 thousand dollars, not including the £100 thousand spent on a Jaguar for the girls present from her parents..
How many children are raised with 'expectations'.. those who live at home off their parents income through those who have the world given to them on a platter by the 'haves'..
We live in a fantasy world these days, and when the bubble bursts, it will be catastrophic.

Now Egypt.
The recent events across the top of Africa have given rise to great concern in some circles.. We have still to see what's to happen in Syria..
The problem is Israel. Their peace treaty with Egypt had about a thirty year shelf life, and oddly enough, that time is up.. And if Hosni bows out after 30 years in power, the next government may not be so friendly. The Muslim Brotherhood's Party has significant popularity.

Add that to Palistinian displeasure with their government, since the leak of documents indicating the Palistinians were willing to discuss some Israeli expansion into Gaza..
Africa's a hotpot at the moment. It would be reasonable to think exports from much of that area are cut back. The cocoa situation in Ivory Coast has been mentioned earlier..

An era may soon come to an end. Nelson Mandala's not well. Mind you he's what..91?
It's been interesting to watch public opinion, and public attention on and about Mandala has evolved over the years. He was a political extremist, a terrorist, definately a murderer when he was sentenced to Roben Island. But perhaps the credit belongs to Winnie, who never stopped trying to effect his release. She raised public awareness of aparteid from alpha to omega..
But now the man is old and frail..
One wonders why Steve Biko didn't raise a vox populi..

Oddly, indications are that in the countryside, support for Hosni is strong. They're quite happy with the way he's dealt with their particular problems..

Ben Ali in Tunisia, anw Hosni Mubrarak in Egypt.. What's next for North Africa..?
Not that much attention is paid to that part of the world, at least those who don't provide those photo's for African support.. Yet look at the price of cocoa these days because the military leader in charge has stopped all exports of the bean.. It's all part of a plan to diminish the rebels flow of cash.
No idea if it's working, but when that chocolate bar costs close to £ can at least, be understood..

That and of course, inflation. Last reported at a revised 5%..
And unemployment at 20%.. that figured reached by benefit records and does not include those who're relying on family, or going from friend, outside the system. There's a growing number of those who can't, or won't deal with the bureaucracy of getting government help..
We seem to have bred another 'Lost Generation'..
That's not even pessimism, but observation..

On a somewhat brighter note, Baracks State of the Union Address was perhaps the most uninspiring speeches heard of late. It seemed seems 'Yes We Can' has turned to 'Yes We Can, And To Do Less Would Be Unpatriotic'..

More later..

A journalistic feast is underway already, as the pundits cue to have their opinions broadcast or read.. we wait for Tuesday, and Barack's State of the Union Address..
What we can be certain of, is 'the economy' will be central, and his government is going to tout bi-partisan cooperation in the House and Senate, the common ground being the recovery.. It's likely that he'll call on the workforce to improve the quality of their products and services, while perhaps suggesting educational programs to produce a trained second team to fill the gaps.. He'll be outlining his plan for a strengthening 'recovery'.. his plans for new growth in the Far East..
These topics are a given though.. to go farther would put us into speculation..

An interesting development.. Pope Benedict XVI has called on priests to be more diligent as they council a couple before marriage.. And that indeed, the Sacrament can be denied, should the indications of an unhappy union become evident during the mandatory counselling sessions..
Seems the Church is going to flex some muscle.. discomfit some of the faithful while perhaps attracting a young mind looking for a decisive direction..
Perhaps we'll see a return to the Vulgate Mass, making the whole experience for the majority totally mysterious again..

While the government has released figures indicating another 49 thousand of us lost jobs in the quarter ending last November, putting the number of new claims for Council Benefits as a watermark.. That, says the government, means officially 2.5 million workers, aren't..
One might wonder though, if that calculation includes those barred from benefits for, say, quitting their last job.. or those who simply live on family these days, inured to a system which simply hasn't places for all, and waiting for a post to fall in their lap.. or those on disability for whatever medical condition gives them a pension..
It was suggested today by the old fellows in the pub that the true figure would show that fully a quarter of those who were once part of the workforce now are 'not working' for the government, paid fortnightly..
Some have made a career of it.. and so many.. too many.. are in their early twenties.

Keeping an eye on China?
Their growth figures are impressive, and despite a blip last Friday, their market appears strong.. And a figure of 10% is not bad, ever better than expected, in GDP.. And while there are already a dozen or so American retail chains already on the mainland.. the talks between Barack and Jintao will be pointed, and somewhat in China's favour..

It would appear that the government is re-thinking it's proposal to give the franchise back to prison inmates, should their sentence be 4 years or less..
It would be natural for us to be somewhat bemused by the suggestion.. for certainly when one is sentenced to prison, one loses the privileges afforded those who keep the law..
A dangerous precedent to give prisoners a voice in the government..

Interest rates are rising, as had to be expected.. The rate of inflation appears to have been underestimated by the Exchequer.. Mind you, while we're superficially better off than the EU.. it's going to hit those on Benefits and the 'working poor' the most almost to the point pensioners would be freezing, were it to get any colder..heating oil and gas have risen a staggering 49%.. while we pay the highest for retail goods in in Europe.. Students have been massing in protest of increases in tuition fees.. and while not quite Paris, the 'voice of the people' has turned against the government..
But we're civilised about it.. for the most part..
One has to wonder, that without any doctoring of the figures with abstractions and momentary variation.. what the true unemployment figures are..

'Baby doc''s been arrested in Port au Prince.. he has so many outstanding charges against him one could paper a room..
But he's old, and frail.. and has a return ticket to Paris..
If, by some remote chance the man rally's Haiti's people..and it's to be remembered he ruled 25 years ago, and memories can tend to be short.. then may the gods turn their eyes away from that island..
Malevolent creatures, these gods can be.. to imply that man could heal the country..
That's cruelty beyond reason..

There are times the information we ingest on a daily basis, is overwhelming, especially if one's purpose is to leave a personal view of the world.. It has been some time since the last entry, and some greater time between that, and the one before.. but time has reestablished itself in the order of things, and much is to be commented on..
Barak's increasing unpopularity for one..Having spent more than a year in office, some of his austerity programs are pulling some purse-strings..
Mind you, with the Conservative/LibDem coalition announcing cuts to the budget of the NHS, and plans for further privitisation.. we here in Britain will have much to think on as our resident population ages, as we all do..
Something more topical and worth watching, is the unexpected appearance of 'Baby Doc Duvallier' in ravaged Haiti.. a country still reeling from the effects of bad government and natural disasters..
But it's been an unusual winter worldwide, thus far.. Snowfalls unprecedented have closed Europe, Britain, Scotland, for days this past holiday season.. Australia's flooding is catastrophic for those in and around Brisbane..
The cost of this weather cannot be counted precisely.. and it's left us all wondering what could next year be bringing us...
We are creatures of habit, and it's unnerving to see something as constant as our weather changing, even subtly.. The thought of having to adapt, is a great concern.. Coping with the cost adds to the weight of the situation..
It must be mentioned, that wherein 'chat rooms' were a source of popular opinion in the past, they have lost the thread somewhere in the vicarious joy of insulting strangers, and endless 'hello's' and 'goodbyes'..
Pity, that..
More to come.

While there may well have been speculation concerning my whereabouts..
I am well.
More later, with a veritable raft of events to discuss.

It's interesting.. the similarities between politics and religion..
Both require faith that those we put into power, will have it within their means to deliver on the promises made..
Makes one someone nervous, for it could well be that the reconstruction process' success or failure could follow the ultimate revelation facing a growing number of those who make a practice of doing their homework when it comes to the use of their franchise.
It's these growing numbers of voters David aimed at, with his announcement of tax reductions on equity held by pensioners. A good target..
The Tories have also announced as yet undefined plans to get Britons back to work.. also a good target, taking into account figures just released indicate 20%.. one in five British workers.. are not any more..
It's a bad summer for Gordon, with allegations made concerning the release of Ali al Magrafi.. the man who was convicted of the Lockerby bombing.. an undercurrent suggesting the authorities were under so much pressure to find a culprit that they dove on the first available viable suspect..
What is perhaps even more disturbing is the reaction of some in the pub.. a wry smile accompanied by 'well, the Bill does a good job on the whole, and he might indeed have been guilty..'
Indicates a deterioration, even on a minute scale, of the growing growing sense of 'what the hell can we do until those at the top figure it out for us..'
Fatalism is perhaps the most destructive elements to his a society.. and while not by far unique to Britain.. it is unsettling..

And yes.. Labour held it's Conference in Brighton last week..
There was nothing we hadn't heard before.. certainly nothing to record..
The most memorable moment was perhaps when the Vice Chairman of the Labour Party stood on the podium, and tore a copy of that days Sun newspaper in two..
The headline story front page was, to paraphrase..'Gordon you've blown it..'.
Never underestimate the power of a tabloid, especially as one with the circulation of Rupert Murdoch's British flagship..

Morality.
A word sadly misused these days, along with the phrase '..for the common good..'
We have Barack telling the UN General Assembly that while there were ' many nations who condemned the United States' unilateral action in.. say the Middle East.. did not preclude the obligations of those who would now see the US take on the cost of reconstruction alone..
Must admit there were a few raised eyebrows at that comment around the pub.. The unspoken question being what we, as a country, bear as a 'moral obligation' to putting the pieces back together, if any at all..
Isn't that the very point of having the hostilities taking place someplace other than home..?
At any rate.. Barack's thrust was that the US is going to expect at least the G8 countries to dig deep..

Ahh.. Yet another warning from the CBI that while we're 'creeping' out of the recession.. the public should not expect things to get easier..not yet..
It is baffling how stupid.. lethargic.. uninformed..incapable of extrapolation the average Briton is.
Where are the plans for the repayment of the £280 billion printed to preserve the British Banking system and thus, British manufacturing, and thus, jobs?
When will this injection of cash into the system begin to filter down to the small manufacturers.. the downstream of those larger concerns which are themselves, folding daily?
When will we see our transportation system is in dire straits.. that fuel costs are, while for the moment relatively static.. breaking the back of many trucking companies servicing off the track places, of which there are many, around this country.. That our rail systems are working with equipment verging on the obsolete on track that should, in some cases be restricted to cargo haulage..?
But, the price of steel.. of skilled workers.. the downtime..
When will any of our choices for Prime Minister say "I have a plan, and this is what is required of the government, and here is what will be demanded of the British public. Don't look for a quick fix, because there isn't one. But, I have a plan.."

But, it was morals we started on..
Morals we ended on, too..

It occurred during an impromptu discussion of 'moral responsibility.. the parameters of personal morality as opposed to legal responsibility.The question was posed,'when did we become such a pliant and complacent society..'
Many views we expressed, from the virtues of 'Objectivism' to the plausibility of a fulfilling life under pure Leninism..
We are in deep trouble here, and if this seem to be of late a pessimistic view of our immediate..well.. don't let it put you out.. it's mere reflection..
The consensus, by the way, was that no form of government has succeed so far.. Human nature has determined throughout history..continues to do so today.. our natural, perhaps genetic need for some to float to power.. others to trades.. and others who fall by the way..
But we are promulgating our basic inability to solve the problems facing us by an odd malaise.. Almost an indifference to 'bloody society on the whole..My plant's shutting in 9 months..'
Now had our various governments not splashed out so much saving the markets, and concentrated more intently on internal issues the likes of the NHS..agriculture.. industry.. we may have been looking at a shorter recovery and indeed, a better prognosis..
Perhaps fewer concerns about dropping final exams before entering high school is..besides being risible.. and more dedicated, both morally and financially towards the recruitment of new teaching staff..
MG Rover..
Gone.
What comfort can those newly unemployed take when the High Street reported a point seven percent rise in retail sales last month..
One wonders what odds Ladbrokes would give on their be food kitchens on a large scale within.. say..three years..

Interesting.
Allan Greenspan, speaking to the BBC, has said, to paraphrase, that there will be another recession, and that basically we're caught in a consumer crisis ccycle dependant on the man on the street's view, that 'it'll all work out in the end'..
The entire article.. which in itself is worthy of a bookmark if for no other reason than keeping a reference point, can be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8244600.stm..
Now.. don't forget to read what Allan doesn't say..

We've been warned.. al Q'aida will likely be considering using commercial aircraft at instruments of terror..
Jaysus wept..

The Summer Hol's appear to at and end..
Tomorrow might be interesting, when Barak's set to address Congress to try and sell his Health care for the nation..
Might be stating the obvious here.. but would seem he's soon going to be bailing the boat with a teaspoon.. Might be round one between Utopia vs the Lobby's and Vested Interest..
Worth a scan if nothing else.. might define this ambiguous 'public option'..

If one was forced to define the general mood on these islands.. surly would perhaps be the winner..
It's been a poor summer as far as the weather is concerned..and that does have an effect on the national mindset..
Unemployment is still growing, and that's led to some familiar faces disappearing from the pub..
The BBC.. our national dispensary for reliable news, is lying to us if not in fact, then by editorial content..
It doesn't help that while we're sure there will be a change in government coming, if we know the damage has already been done, and the face to the right of the Dispatch Box will have no option to tell us we're hip deep in offal, wearing an old pair of wellies..

Ahhh.. what a noise an economic and social collapse does make.. silence as the factories close, and an anguished outcry from those who're told they're redundant.
History tells us 'bread and circus' can only amuse for so long..

It is undoubtedly true that at sometime during the demise of a great civilisation..perhaps 'transition' might be more apt, who has asked 'where did the ideals based on the benefit of the common man go?' At what point did the individual abrogate his status, to become a prole?
Perhaps it began in the sixties with the emergence of Guru's the likes of Leary and his ilk incited the bonfire of the vanities, but were we then too blind to see that while 'turn in, tune on, drop out' was a phenomena, and that the 'light at the end of the tunnel', as Hunter H Thompson ably expressed 'was simply not there..'
It became a lifestyle, spawning a generation with exceedingly few social barriers and precious little social skills, which in turn spawned an even more rebellious generation which has added to that list a lack of academic insomniacs..
More than 160 thousand British university candidates will be unable to find a seat this year. A result of overpopulation perhaps..? Last census has us at more than 61 million on these islands. Perhaps it's the result of 'dumbing down, lowering the learning curve, which has brought us here.
Regardless. There are literally those who have earned Masters Degrees who drive taxi in Glasgow. To what end a Degree these days?
Unemployment remains at record levels, and further redundancies and closures are expected in the very near future. Foreclosures have dipped, but was that not to be expected after the wheat was separated from the chaff. And it is questionable as to how long those smaller grains of wheat will last the waft of continuing diminishment of our manufacturing base..
And, lest it be forgotten, we have yet to feel even a zephyr from the Treasury on future plans to diminish the several hundred billion Pounds printed by the Mint, to bail out our floundered banking and loan system..Is indeed the 'black hole' the government is looking for, the average length of the collective memories of the British public..?
"Ahh look Margaret..tea's gone up 13p a box..Tsk tsk.. I'll put the kettle on..".
Petrol at £1.03 a litre..
Bread at £1.30 a loaf.
Gods alone know what a seasons ticket for ManFC goes for these days...
Now, this gloomy picture, which is undoubtedly equally applicable in any other country has been presented for one purpose, and one alone.
A recent series reports on the BBC, the other television outlets, the press and radio, have jumped on a .7% increase in our projected GNP for last month, and announcing 'there are signs the recession is easing'.
Now they're just blatantly lying to us.
Where have the billions of Pounds been spent by those facing imminent collapse? Why is it not in circulation?
It is a practical given the Labour Party will suffer an overwhelming defeat in the next election, but economic plans must be set in place by the new Conservative Government that tie us in..allow the man on the street..to hear in plain English how long this debt is amortized over.. what it's cost is going to be to the individual.. what exigencies exist for restarting British export manufacturing.. and when, if ever, can they expect to see an expanding job market.
While it is of overwhelming importance to us how fares the United States inder Barak, but it is of immesurably of more importance to we know what we, individually, can expect.
One would expect the gnomes are cackling to themselves, quietly, somewhere.

It is curious, what brings one back to the need to record one's thoughts..
Financial matters are essentially irrelevant these days, with it all based on these astronomical cash injections which, by the way, have yet to filter down to the record numbers of those unemployed or disposessed..
The war.. or wars.. continue ceaselessly, as they always shall..
It's as though we're caught in a limbo of ambivalence these days.. Those suffering minor hardships not really having to tighten more than a notch or two, while those becoming acclimatised to being unemployed, are learning to use the system to maintain a standard of living, while definately lower than that they enjoyed before, still sufficient to pay for a week in the Maldives if the pennies are watched..
Britain is perhaps unique in it's social structure. The defined lines are traditional, and what's more, generally respected.
We're reknown for our expertise at cuing.
But how criminally negligent is it for a government sinking in debt..struggling to maintain essential services.. to even offer an idiotic 'ray of hope', as to announce 'the recession is ever in Britain'.
How stupid do they think we are?
I reference a BBC report : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8217122.stm
A good laugh is always welcome.. and this is spin worthy of Peter Mandelson.

It is a source of constant surprise, that we have accepted the government as the arbiter of that which we can or cannot take, in the way of intoxicants. How we have been told there is one, and only one substance that we may use to alter our states of conciousness, and that is of course, alcohol
Man made legal highs the likes of GBL and BZP, synthetic cannabinoids in effect, have become the latest target of our Big Brother, and will, according to the authorities, be classed among the 'B' drugs.
One again must question the value of the organised crime lobby on government legislators.
And once again we must examine those who propagate anti-drug legislation and their standards of discernment versus ingrained ignorance.

They say, 'a change is as good as a rest'..
They lie.
A rest is seven weeks in the sun, in Jamaica.
More, later.

Five Labour MPs..count 'em..five have been banned by the party from standing at the next election as this newest chimera unleashed upon the British public..
Now these five have been tossed because they have admitted to 'questionable claims on their Parliamentary expenses..
A number of Tory MPs have been forced to stand down at the next election because of their conduct...
Is it possible that in this day and age we still expect our politicians to be pure as Caesars wife.. It is, as has long been tradition, for those in power to benefit, within reason, slightly in excess of what's paid them..
Considering the state of the world's economy.. one would think the media would be pressing Ministers on their plans for the next session, with the Summer Standing so near to hand, to reassure us things will simply float along while unemployment rises constantly..that there are as many shops closed along the High Street than there are open for business.. that our steel industry is teetering on the edge and BA has asked it's employees, including the CEO, work for a month for free..
The pandemic just wasn't enough.. too few people died..
How much longer can this financial tripe keep the tabloids busy..
the issue of whether Gordon shop step down.. how long can this political spin last..?
Until perhaps, the House stands down..?

It's been a while since there's been anything of real importance, vis a vis the Game..
But of couple of brief mentions are due to one or two developments..
Aside from the obvious and terminal problems facing Gordon and his Party in General
And dismissing the continued worldwide financial collapse..
Disregarding the insidious spread of swine flu..
There's been some financial sleight of hand in the EU..
Latvia's managed to stave off official bankruptcy with some draconian cuts in their budget.. reducing old age pensions by 10% and cutting public sector salaries by 20%.. but they decided against increasing income taxes...
Parliament will vote on the changes next week.
Latvia's currency is pegged to the euro, but the recession has hit Latvia so badly that many are of the mind it will have to devalue the lat..
Thus it begins. There are now 23 countries in the EU, not all tied to to the Euro though..and one has a distance feeling the 'til now relatively discrete voices in the 'old EU' will get louder over the next year or two..
Latvia's desperate measures were prompted by the absolute necessity of reducing it's deficit to qualify fr its next instalment of it's EU bail out funds, due in December.
Not the time to be a pensioner living it Latvia..
It gets cold there, even now, and heating oil or gas is certainly not cheap..
Ahhh.. the glory of an unified democratic Europe..

An interesting point made by the director general of the CBI.. Richard Lambert told the annual meeting of business leaders that the financial problems swamping the nation appear to have become less important in the eye of Parliamentarians than their current preoccupation with MP's expenses and structural reforms dealing with the manner Parliament deals with the finances of individual MP's..
While reforms are indeed needed, it is simply not the time for this tripe. There are far more pressing issues to be dealt with..

Now, is this how Barack's going to deal with his closest allies..
It's raises many an eyebrow down at the local, when it was discovered the American President.. in line with his promise to close Guantanamo Bay.. simply transferred 4 inmate to a compound In Bermuda..
Without informing number Ten or indeed, even the Foreign Office.
Bermuda is still officially a British Protectorate..
So what Barack has done, is effectively put those transferred detainees into British custody..
Not on the square, that..

Britain has a new Poet Lauriate, and many might respond with a '..and so..?' It must be ackowledged to be a post of some social importance in that it preserves the language in the context of current social standards..
An example is 'gay'. From it's 18th Century interpretation of somewhat vapid, through it's Romanic Period's connotation of wit, general happyness of disposition, to today's rather sordid sexual association..
The Poets Lauriate has written wothwhile works, exemplifying the evolution of this lanuage of hours..
For the first time in the Post's long history, the new Lauriate is a woman.. Carol Ann Duffy. It's worth reading, her stuff..

Must be recorded by a survey carried out for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development... that the outlook for those looking for work are going to have some very hard times ahead..
The Institute suggests jobs will continue to simply disappear for the next few months.. They've predicted a three month slowdown.. and what is more telling is that not only are redundancies going to hit the private sector, but those in the public service will be looking at pink slips.. figure show that some 7 thousand Social Workers, traditionally aspestos have gone in the last 90 days..
Ironic, that the one employer still advertising for people, and offering a liveable wage, is the military..
What an odd Civilisation we have built.
One applauds their optimism..

Also noteworthy is the European Bank dropping it's rate by a quarter..
1% now in the EU..
Worth watching..

An interesting discussion this evening has left some lingering thought of the North American.. indeed, the worldwide future of the auto industry..
Leaving Ford out of the overall picture, for that company seems to have managed to weather this storm to date.. it would seem the drivers in the States and Canada will need to redefine what a 'family car' means.. while the other end of the demographic will have to accept that 'muscle cars' are an anachronism..
This is the knowledge that the new Camaro comes with three engine options.. the smallest of which is a 315cu/in displacement.. and that others in the market are offering up to 6 litres, the new Mustang Shelby as an example.
The US is unique in that it has never had war fought within it's boundaries other than that of it's own making, and it has always had success in expanding it's boundaries, and it's pre-eminence in world affairs..
The average American is, to varying degrees, well aware of this history, and has usually been adamant resisting change to what are now considered to be 'inalienable rights', one of which is to accept that at some time or another, their youth will want to own the 'biggest, fastest goddam car in town'. Those with parents solvent enough may well get one in a rite of passage, others may simply save, or use credit..
Regardless, the 'right' to own a car who's maximum speed, if reached in any populated area would cost the license of the driver, is shared by most Americans to be as inalienable as that to bear arms.
No doubt, had the Founding Fathers been aware of auto's having the horsepower of a small aircraft, they would have included them..
One has to wonder, with GM within days of declaring bankruptcy, and Chrysler seeming saved by some extent by Fiat, what the reaction will be to small, fuel efficient cars the likes of which we take as normal. Where a 2 litre engine is considered big.. It will be yet another challenge for the American man on the street..It was suggested that the outcome, in eventual terms for the industry, would be three companies left at the end.. all in foreign hands. That any hope in industry had, was to concentrate on European designs, maximizing fuel efficiency or compatibility with hybrid fuels, while leaving a niche market by leaving Cadillac..the Corvette,, the Mustang range for those who can afford to pay road tax reflecting the displacement of the engine alone..
But consensus was reached, to some extent, that the era of 4-wheel drive off road vehicles as a status symbol, was at an end..

Notably.. That Steven Harper should spend so much time in the US, talking with Barack on how to manage their economy according to a Canadian model..
Moot as to that which works with an economy as damaged as the American.. or how the Canadian model, based on a population of 55 million, would work on such an expanded scale in the States..
And besides the population issue, the American model requires the cooperation of all 50 States, and their own particular lobbies and vested interests..
How would the hospital insurance industry react if free health care the like of OHIP were brought into effect in say, New York States, or California..
And how on earth would the Federal and the States governments pay for such a magnanimous scheme..?

Worthwhile to keep an eye on the Taliban in Pakistan..
That country's military doesn't appear to be coping with the problem either with it's border with India, or Afghanistan..Mind you the Pakistani government is preparing for an expected half a million refugees from the Swat Vally, where the Taliban had a tacit agreement with the Government to restrict their activities in exchange for allowing Shari'a Law in the area..
Not an arrangement the British or Americans are happy with..
Pakistani soldiers are being deployed.. But their success rate, to date, has not been good..
It will be interesting to see Islamabad's reaction to an inevitable American strike to at least contain the problem..
It's difficult to envision as to what the next moveswill be in the 'War on Terror'..
If there is an end in sight, it certainly not within the perspective of this generations lifetimes..
We have determined to rid ourselves of fleas, while constantly playing with 'friendly dogs..

Ahh Hugo..
The Venezuelan President has tightened his grip on the country's oil industry to amounts to a strangehold by sending troops in to occupy industries in the immediate downstream of the oil refineries..
At the moment, Venezeula's the largest producer in the America's, and with falling oil prices, Huho's making premptive moves to ensure all the cash that can he wrung frpm the industry goes into the governments coffers..
One woders what would be done if, say, Gordon, or Barack, had such powers of arbitrary action..

Soon to be election time across these Isles, as we decide who to send to Brussels to represent us in the European Parliament..
Labour is in such dire straits at the moment it boggles the mind..
Google 'UKIP'.. the UK Independance Party.
They'll likely push Labour back to third place, or could indeed be sending a large number of MEP's to the Continent..perhaps a national majority..