by Tom | Oct 6, 2011 | Government, Reading
Really interesting summary: the war on drugs has been lost despite falling rates of drug use in many countries. Let’s legalise and regulate just as Argentina, Mexico, Portugal and Spain have. Doesn’t have to lead to increases in drug taking or drug...
by Tom | Sep 7, 2011 | Business, Government, Reading
Very useful historical perspective and analysis of the current recession in the West. Summary: with the “rich” taking a wildly disproportionate cut of many countries’ income, the “middle class” (non-rich, non-poor) have run out of avenues...
by Tom | Aug 25, 2011 | Business, Government, Personal, Reading
Der Spiegel is convinced that the financial sector is once again an imminent threat to the world economy. (As I wrote that I found myself wondering if financial markets were the world economy. They aren’t of course, just as the occasional shutting down of...
by Tom | Jun 23, 2011 | Business, Government, Reading
Terrifying article in Spiegel about the lack of any sensible options for the Eurozone. Time for Plan B: How the Euro Became Europe’s Greatest Threat. I’d be keen on a nuclear option, because at the moment, it appears that the main effect of the pressure on...
by Tom | May 17, 2011 | Government, Hong Kong / China
Very helpful explanation of the manner in which power is likely to be transferred in China. I’m particularly interested in the effect that a markedly new generation of politicians will have on the country. In contrast to the Western-educated engineers that have...
by Tom | Dec 8, 2010 | Government, Personal, Reading
Simple summary: Wikileaks is as good a place as any to release the cablegate and Afghanistan war logs. Julian Assange should be treated as innocent until proven guilty and should stand trial in Sweden. I believe that the stealing of the cablegate files was illegal....
