22 Comments
User's avatar
Alan B's avatar

The effect of all of this seems to be that we have a great deal more government but with a lot less quality. I suspect it suits almost all of those involved and it is therefore unlikely to change. Do you have any suggestions, Sir Jacob?

Expand full comment
Robert Phillips's avatar

There is far too much legislation,you've summed it up brilliantly , they're just keeping themselves in business.

Expand full comment
Robert Phillips's avatar

Is anyone really concerned about the history or the machinations of our filthy and vile "Democracy"?

Expand full comment
Gabrielle Hayden's avatar

Well… yes. Our host was clear about what he would be posting about. History and government were mentioned. Historical figures brought to the forefront, and some cultural observations.

That’s why I am here. Why are you here?

Expand full comment
Robert Phillips's avatar

Given you're an American,don't live in this country ,don't put up with anything we put up with in this country,have your wonderful Emperor Trump ,why are you here ?

Expand full comment
Gabrielle Hayden's avatar

I told you.

Expand full comment
Robert Phillips's avatar

Incidentally the only host I know of was the one I used to know in Berchtesgaden,when I used to leave Italy when it became too hot.Even then I paid ,I also wanted to repay the kindness of my excellent MP JRM,I didn't expect to encounter a rude crackpot yank like you.

Expand full comment
Robert Phillips's avatar

You've called me a baboon,suggested my head should be shoved down a toilet ,I'll tell you now.Ive wiped better things than you off of my shoes.

Expand full comment
Gabrielle Hayden's avatar

OK Baboon toilet hound, stop laughing and concentrate ..., on something important and special.

I liked that toilet jibe. I felt like Gene Hackman in The French Connection.

Expand full comment
Gabrielle Hayden's avatar

your fly is open.

Expand full comment
Gabrielle Hayden's avatar

You looked!

Expand full comment
Robert Phillips's avatar

AH and I don't mean Adolf Hitler

Expand full comment
Gabrielle Hayden's avatar

That was a very informative and closely-observed essay. And a fun read. Thank you.

The skeleton bills followed by lightly-scrutinized secondary masonry added to the said bills have a bit of similarity to certain senatorial activity here, namely tacking any sort of unrelated regulation onto bills that have passed congress and have yet to be voted on by the senate.

In 1988, Sen. Ted Kennedy inserted some very restricting regulations about media ownership into a bread-and-butter appropriations bill. The bill amendment was aimed at Rupert Murdoch. Every Democrat pol in NY didn’t like that. That bit of legislation was repealed.

Expand full comment
Robert Phillips's avatar

Who's interested?All I need to know about Ted Kennedy is summed up in one word Chappaquadick.

Expand full comment
Gabrielle Hayden's avatar

I'm on Murdoch's side, you baboon.

Hey! It's getting late. Time to jam your head into the toilet.

Expand full comment
Robert Phillips's avatar

Whenever your name crops up I think of David Lammy.

Expand full comment
Gabrielle Hayden's avatar

So my name "crops up".

Expand full comment
Robert Phillips's avatar

You're probably the same colour of things I flush down the toilet .As the Australians say if it's yellow let it mellow ,if it's brown flush it down.

Expand full comment
Robert Phillips's avatar

I bet you tell all your friends in Jew York about how you're in touch with an ex cabinet minister with a title ,because you're just a pathetic snob.

Expand full comment