> Hoping some UK people (ie wintermute, there are others, but you're the only one I know for sure is from there) can take a look at this. Something I was reading in "The Nation" (left-wing political mag for those of you that don't know). I was wondering...is any of it really true? Because up to that point in the article, I was agreeing with at least some of what the writer said. But this part got me thinking he was just a nut. Maybe not though....I'm not in a position to say. Anyways, enough talk, here's the part of the article I'm talking about.
>
> jon

Well, without going into detail, I would say that it's a little strong, but not unfounded. The recent (and continuing, though no longer reported) foot & mouth outbreak became the worst the world has ever seen due entirely to gross incompetence mis-management by Blair's government, for example. The sorry state of the railways is ultimatly the fault of the previous Tory government, but Blair has done nothing to improve the situation, and a lot to worsen it.

I do want to pay some attention to the first sentence of the second paragraph:

> The Britain Blair governs is blighted by institutionalized racism...

Hmmm... The is a strong racist element, but I don't think it's institutionalised. One example that I remember was by Sir Paul Condon, Chief Superintendant of the Metropolitan Police Force: He basically said that the majority of muggings were committed by blacks, and the majority of burglaries were committed by whites. This was jumped on as an example of institutionalised racism, but I find it hard to see it as being anything other than a statistical fact. He did lose his job over it though.

> ...white male dominance...

Well, yes. Even though there have been numerous attempts to increase the diversity of the upper levels of companies and government agencies, this remains true. Is it racism, or a lack of qualified minority applicants? I don't know, and I don't really want to speculate.

> ...chaotically administered police forces, a constipated judicial system...

I'm not entirely sure what they mean by these, but I suppose both could be true. I think they're phrased a little perjoratively, though.

> ...obscene private wealth and shameful and unnecessary public poverty.

Well, we do better than America, but worse than most of Europe on those points.

In essence (and returning to the point) I think that Blair is probably the worst Prime Minister we've had since Lloyd George. Admittedly, the previous government had left him with a lot of problems, but he has consistently chosen to do nothing about them except make soundbite-friendly speeches.

Personally, I think he is very happy to be touring the world, doing someting about terrorism (but not terrorism that affects Britain, of course) and being the World Statesman rather than getting his hands dirty actually solving problems for the people who elected him.

winter"always glad to help"mute