The Last Ditch by Tom Paine

There was a constant theme at the recent Battle of Ideas event that disturbed me greatly, but which I didn't address in my previous long accounts. Time and again I heard people say that equality was justice because those who had more or less success owed it all to chance.…

Once again, Dr Dalrymple nails it; The idea that living within your means is a form of austerity, and not (other than in exceptional circumstances) the elementary moral duty of people of honor, shows that, underlying the economic crisis is a profound moral crisis in western society.

It's a relief, after feeling so out of line with modern British thought during the last weekend, to hear a modern Brit express views that seem healthy and sane. Here's Rowan Atkinson on the subject of free speech and, more specifically, the campaign to reform section 5 of the Public…