One of the characteristics of socialized medicine is that elected politicians shoulder the ultimate responsibility for providing the health care of citizens.  So it is not unusual for a British Prime Minister, for example, to be berated in the House of Commons by a Member of Parliament whose constituent has received poor or delayed treatment [...]...

Last year, I predicted that Manchester United would win its nineteenth English soccer title, only to see the Red Devils finish as runners up behind Cheslea, by a single point.  Looking back, the championship was lost in a 3-0 away defeat at Fulham when United had no fit central defenders and were forced to resort [...]...

SIDESWIPE – The confirmation of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court last week was never in doubt given the Democrats’ majority in the Senate.  Equally, few observers of the U.S. political and justice systems have any doubt that Ms. Kagan will be a politically liberal judge legislating from the bench, rather than one who upholds the constitution in [...]...