Free Republic

One of the baleful dimensions of our times is the way that the conversation about what constitutes the good society is framed by the rich and their interests. A conception of the common good withers; instead it is replaced by the existential importance of private wealth, private interests and private ownership to societal health. Nowhere is this more exposed than in the debate over taxation, and in particular the taxation of inherited wealth – as the debate over the past fortnight has dramatised. Half a million people die every year. Under the reforms to inheritance tax relief on agricultural land...

Piques at EU's polls By Mark Steyn Following yesterday's vote in France, Dutch voters Wednesday get to express their opinion on the proposed "European Constitution." Heartening to see democracy in action, notwithstanding the European elite's hysterical warnings that, without the constitution, the Continent will be set back on the path to Auschwitz. I haven't seen the official ballot, but the choice seems to be: "Check Box A to support the new constitution; check Box B for genocide and conflagration." Alas, this tactic doesn't seem to have worked. So, a couple of days before the first referendum, Jean-Claude Juncker, the "president"...

Will Hutton is one of Britain’s better-known political commentators (I’ve linked to him a few times on the Corner). A shining beacon of self-regard, self-righteousness and that sublime, almost surreal, stupidity that only the truly ‘intellectual’ can aspire to, he has made a career out of being wrong about almost everything, but today he has contributed to the merriment of the nation, and that's something for which he should be thanked. So, thanks Will! I'll leave it to the Daily Telegraph to tell you a little more about this paragon of progressive thought: “Will Hutton, Britain's foremost critic of capitalism...