I think these recent posts almost redefine the concept of "thread creep" but all very fascinating nonetheless.
As has been discussed before, it seems that politicians in this country have a complete inability to put short term political considerations aside and focus - and agree - on long term strategic projects whether they be new nuclear power stations or airports. Consequently, every five years or so, policies and programmes are abandoned, delayed, changed. Other countries e.g. France seem to be able to put political differences aside when nationally important issues are at stake and agree on long term national priorities. Also, countries such as France would never countenance selling off the "family silver" to foreign companies which are frequently controlled by foreign governments. Successive UK governments have claimed that this is just the free market operating but foreigners must be utterly slack jawed in amazement that we would let flagship company after flagship company be sold to offshore buyers, not to mention critical parts of our infrastructure. Almost more important than the lost profits is the gradual seepage away of intellectual property and know-how and the dearth of inspirational national champions with which to attract new young blood into e.g. aircraft engineering.
Our politicians just slope their shoulders and say that capitalism means no state interference and it doesn't matter where the IP and technology reside. But they are pretty much the only politicians who do think that way - look how France, Germany, Italy and others support their core technology and engineering industries and would never ever countenance them being foreign controlled - while we just flog them ours.
We once had world-leading aircraft manufacturing, nuclear technology and electronic companies but, in association with bad management on more than one occasion, short term political considerations and deliberate neglect have resulted in the disappearance of many of them. And, to get back on-thread, it is exactly the same attitude by craven, self-interested politicians which has got us into a position where the world's leading financial centre can no longer be connected to emerging world economies because these spineless wastrels have ensured that no new runway has been built in southern england for sixty years and, the way things seem tio be going, may not be built for another 60 years!
Ah - feel better for getting that of my chest!
