By Slanted Light

(continued from above)

And having lived over here for a while, and having to deal with the so-called medical system here I am an even bigger supporter of the NHS/welfare state than when I left. No matter what else, the comfort of being unquestioningly looked after when I broke my arm in the UK was worth every little law I ever had to obey over there, and every penny I've paid in tax and NI - especially compared to the worry and uncertainty of the same experience (other arm!) over here, even long after my arm had healed!

****I agree. I worship the NHS and feel that’s one of the things to be proud of in the UK. It just doesn’t seem civilized that you are allowed to get ill and die if you haven’t got any money. [And please don't ask me to define 'civilisation' - I know it when I see it].

I don't have the bravery or energy for anarchy, where the weakest really are left to go to the wall

I certainly don't believe in the "strongest survives" ideal either - its strong only in one sense, and ultimately can't do anyone any good. What's the use in being strong and alive, if that's all you are..?

***Better than being weak and dead, I suppose?

Have you seen a series called "Northern Exposure"? There's an ep where one of the characters is finally caught, having been stealing people's radios for weeks. The year before, in springtime, he stole hairdryers, the year before.. etc. When asked why he did it, he says: Wildness, Ed! Wildness. We're running out of it, man. Even up here in Alaska, people need to be reminded that the world is unsafe and unpredictable. And at the drop of a hat, they could lose everything, man. Just like that. You couldn't predict that. I do it to remind them that chaos is out there and he's lurking beyond the horizon. That's why. Well, that and . . . sometimes, Ed, sometimes, you just gotta do something bad just to know you're alive.

****No, I haven’t seen this series. Sounds interesting. And it’s true, you never know what you’re capable of and who you really are until you’ve been tested or have experience of many different things.

But we shouldn't forget that for everything we have, we are only cushioned, not immune...

****Good observation. May I use that please (and claim it as my own?).

ah, revolution *blinks owlishly at pictures of Blair and Bush, and then shakes head*.

****Have you got them hanging in your cabin? (Their picture, that is). How *sweet*….. and there’s me thinking that you lean towards anarcho-syndicalism…

Its true, I do think that this is the best system we've got at the moment (note the idealistic streak of "at the moment"!). After a little more research, I might throw in proportional representation, and compulsory voting, as "we" have over in Australia

****I don’t think I could be bothered with PR and I can’t see the average, apolitical Brit working out the pros and cons of lots of people when half of them don’t even know who the PM is. Never saw the point of compulsory voting either. Unless there is a very definite choice between the parties. If there isn’t, like here in the UK, then if no party represents your interests what’s the point of being made to vote for parties you don’t support? Unless (I’ve got this very wrong) and there’s a box for people who don’t support any party that’s on offer. A sort of abstention vote. I could understand that.

Um, sorry sir, what was the question?

****One lump or two? I think I'd better lie down now.