Light blogging again

I'm probably just about the only UK blogger to have more-or-less ignored the recent fun. One reason is that although I'm now supposedly semi-retired I seem to get ever more work to do. Perhaps I should just assume that all my extra savings will be inflated away and not bother with the additional work.

But there's another reason for the light blogging.

At the end of the day what matters is the underlying political culture and not which particular bunch of corrupt politicians holds power at any given time. The best thing about recent events is the widespread realisation that there is a distinct political class. That's to say a group that derives its wealth through the political process and not through the voluntary interactions of the market.

As far as Scotland is concerned it seems clear that the political class is at least as well ensconced here as anywhere else.

So here's a modest proposal that would give Scotland an economic advantage.

The UK has a terrible reputation as the home of libel tourism:

American politicians are pushing through free speech laws to protect US citizens from libel rulings in British courts that have been accused of stifling criticism of oligarchs and dictators.

And this is how America is fighting back:

Congress is also considering a bill that will allow defendants of foreign libel suits to counter-sue for up to three times the damages sought by a claimant if their right to free speech, enshrined in the First Amendment, has been violated.

But look at this comment from Jacqueline Hyde:

I think, Mr Watts, you mean "English" courts - not "British"!

Pursuers must always establish that a Scottish court has jurisdiction as an essential part of any litigation - and usually this entails proving that the defender has a place of residence or business within that court's jurisdiction.

Jacqueline Hyde, Inverness,

So to some extent this appears to be more of an English problem than a British one.

Good.

I'd like the Scottish parliament to build on this. Let Scots law become more friendly to the interests of the people and less so to those of the political class and its wealthy friends. The ultimate aim is to get rid of the political class altogether. The first country to achieve that will lead the world in happiness and prosperity.