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The author discusses the economic conditions of Great Britain which is pose to enter the parliamentary election in May 2015.

The author reflects on the 2016 election in the U.S. and the political and economic condition in Great Britain.

The author reflects on the referendum to be held by Scotland in September 2014 on whether to leave Great Britain.

Last week the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, a British think tank, released a startling chart comparing the current slump with past recessions and recoveries. It turns out that by one important measure -- changes in real G.D.P. since the recession began -- Britain is doing worse this time than it did during the Great Depression. Four years into the Depression, British G.D.P. had regained its previous peak; four years after the Great Recession began, Britain is nowhere close to regaining its lost ground. Nor is Britain unique. Italy is also doing worse than it did in the 1930s -- and with Spain clearly headed for a double-dip recession, that makes three of Europe's big five economies members of the worse-than club. Yes, there are some caveats and complications. But this nonetheless represents a stunning failure of policy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the spring of 2010, fiscal austerity became fashionable. I use the term advisedly: the sudden consensus among Very Serious People that everyone must balance budgets now now now wasn't based on any kind of careful analysis. It was more like a fad, something everyone professed to believe because that was what the in-crowd was saying. And it's a fad that has been fading lately, as evidence has accumulated that the lessons of the past remain relevant, that trying to balance budgets in the face of high unemployment and falling inflation is still a really bad idea. Most notably, the confidence fairy has been exposed as a myth. There have been widespread claims that deficit-cutting actually reduces unemployment because it reassures consumers and businesses; but multiple studies of historical record, including one by the International Monetary Fund, have shown that this claim has no basis in reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was the blooper heard round the world. In an editorial denouncing Democratic health reform plans, Investor's Business Daily tried to frighten its readers by declaring that in Britain, where the government runs health care, the handicapped physicist Stephen Hawking ''wouldn't have a chance,'' because the National Health Service would consider his life ''essentially worthless.'' Professor Hawking, who was born in Britain, has lived there all his life, and has been well cared for by the National Health Service, was not amused. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

What would have happened if hanging chads and the Supreme Court hadn't denied Al Gore the White House in 2000? Many things would clearly have been different over the next eight years. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Has Gordon Brown, the British prime minister, saved the world financial system? O.K., the question is premature -- we still don't know the exact shape of the planned financial rescues in Europe or for that matter the United States, let alone whether they'll really work. What we do know, however, is that Mr. Brown and Alistair Darling, the chancellor of the Exchequer (equivalent to our Treasury secretary), have defined the character of the worldwide rescue effort, with other wealthy nations playing catch-up. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents the author's views on terrorism related to health care in Great Britain and the U.S. It is stated that recently, British authorities announced that some Muslim doctors working at the National Health Service were behind a recent failed bomb plot. According to the author, health care is all about morality, and health care reformers in the U.S. should focus on the needs of middle-class Americans.

The article reports that Great Britain's war on poverty which has been led by Gordon Brown, the chancellor of the exchequer, is an example for the United States. Many of the policies of Gordon Brown are inspired by American models but in Britain these are carried out with much more determination. In Britain, specific policies with well-defined goals are proposed by Labor politicians.

Compares the proposal of U.S. President George Bush's administration towards privatization of the retirement system with the British scheme. Distinction between its starting points; Preparedness of Great Britain for the transition; Costs and risks of running private investment accounts.

Discusses the protest held by truckers against the fuel prices in Great Britain as of September 2000. Status of its fuel prices; Details on the taxation of its fuel.