Hi IF,

Interesting you say; "they (unions) must be carefully controlled by their membership."...."Just as governments are (hopefully) controlled by the people."

I'm not disagreeing with what you say, but I assume its only an inadvertent admission on your part that you don't say business, big and small, should be under some control as well. I see business as a key element of the economy and society in general, do you not believe left unchecked they can be a danger to society, just like unions and government?

I think it is a matter of 'level'.
Business is higher up the 'chain' than the workers are?
Government is above business.
Unions are needed to control the possible 'over-zealousness' of business.
In its excitement, business might neglect the welfare of those 'below' them.
If further control of business is needed, government are the ones to do it.
They are the next level up.
However, control of business is also achieved by those who buy goods.
Consumers can make or break a business.
And the people also control government?
So the people, collectively, control everything?
Unions are a small part of those people, who are charged with a specific task.

Hi IF,

What you say is harking back to the bad old days of a class riddled society, with the idea of levels, capital being higher than labour. Where I believe in a more complementary society with labour and capital work together for the common good, with government playing a necessary regulatory roll. The idea that capital is simply regulated by the "free market" whilst labour is controlled is disastrous.

Universities - should they house their 70,000 foreign students themselves?

Hi AC,

Are you in favour of "sorority housing" on campus at the college, can I suggest the movie "Revenge Of The Nerds" as a handbook guide as to how they should operate.

There wouldn't be a shortage of student accommodation if students were only accepted into Universities on merit to study !