A short while ago this blog was discussing Brexit and the right wing of the Conservative Party. In the course of this I mentioned Jacob Ress-Mogg as a potential Prime Minister, and rather soon unless unforeseen events stop it. Two decades ago Jacob’s father, William, wrote a book, or manifesto, called .”The Sovereign Individual: How …
Continue reading ‘The lurking threat to British democracy’ »
The United States’ fertility levels have been below replacement level — the level at which a given generation can exactly replace itself, usually 2,100 births per 1,000 women — since 1971. Immigration has has kept population statistics on the level. Recently the National Center for Health Statistics reported that U.S. fertility had fallen to a …
The founder of the Swiss physician-assisted suicide organisation Dignitas went on trial last Friday, on charges of profiteering and exploiting patients’ suffering for his own benefit. In Switzerland, providing assisted suicide services is legal as long as it is not done for “self-serving” motives. The case against Ludwig Minelli concerns the assisted suicide of an …
Humans are one of the rare animals to be altruistic. An ancient form of giving holds secrets about why we help one another without any promise of reward. In the Maasai tradition known as osotua – literally, umbilical cord – anyone in need can request aid from their network of friends. Anyone who is asked …
