Indo-Sino-problemo!
I am obliged, yet again, to The Business ("Britain's Best, Britain's Only Newspaper", says David Duff. David who?) In its always thought-provoking, not to say shiver-inducing, regular column entitled 'earlywarning', it points to a shift in American policy towards India, prompted by American fears of growing Chinese power. All right as far as it goes, but alas, it goes as far as Pakistan, which is not at all happy with these policy indications. President Musharraf may, to delicate Left-wing sensibilities, be a 'bastard', but at least he's 'our bastard', so to speak. And when I write "our", I mean "our", as in British. We are host to an enormous Pakistani immigrant population, and it did not pass me and a lot of people un-noticed that several of the recent terrorists had very strong links to Pakistan. Thus, we depend more than somewhat on president Musharraf's survival, for he, at least, is prepared to put pressure on the terrorist sympathisers (and trainers) who abide in such numbers in his country. I dread to think of of the consequences if he is overthrown and replaced by a militant Muslim cleric.
From 'A' grade to 'Z' grade lunacy:
The annual farrago of so-called A-level passes comes round once again. It is fortunate for the daily and weekly prints, and entirely appropriate, that the news comes out in August, traditionally the 'silly season' in which the news-starved media stuff themselves with any old nonsense just to fill the pages. Is there anyone, outside of the educational(?) establishment, who believes these Stakhanovite statistics, and who doubts that A-levels are not worth the paper they are printed on?
Super Supermarkets:
In discussions (oh, alright then, arguments) with various members of the 'Trot-lot Tendency' I have often asked them to compare the skills and abilities of the supermarket industry with the nationalised Health Service. The usual exercise, involving an absolutely implaccable determination not to see what is plainly before their eyes, then ensues. But I would ask you, dear reader, the next time you go into a Tesco store, or Sainsburys, or who-ever, just pause and look about you. Tens of thousands of products and foodstuffs brought to you from all over the world, packaged, displayed, fresh, clean, cheap and ready to go 365-days the year round! The customer, you, is king. Any complaints? Money back or a replacement. Imagine for a moment the intellectual brilliance of the people who make all this possible. It is a staggering operation and my admiration for those responsible is immense. Now consider the NHS, oh, on second thoughts, don't bother, it's too, too depressing. What is the one difference between them? A six-letter word considered so foul and horrid that even the four-letter men of the 'Trot-lot Tendency' won't utter it - profit!
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