Dear Poirot,

Scandinavia is not only an egalitarian society politically and economically but it also is more environmentally conscious and saving than most, if not all, other societies. E. g. Sweden with a much more severe climate than the US only uses per capita 60% of the energy usage of the US. They are not a wasteful society. We cannot continue the pattern of opulence amid deprivation and have a decent world. China and Scandinavia, two very different societies, are both concerned with uncontrolled population growth. They can both tackle that problem since religion does not have a strong voice in either country.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0930884.html has tables of foreign aid per capita for the 21 wealthiest countries. The first figure is per capita government aid and the second per capita private giving:

Australia 14¢ 3¢ Austria 18 2 Belgium 28 2 Canada 17 2 Denmark 64 1 Finland 24 1 France 25 1 Greece 7 0.1.Germany 18 3 Ireland 28 6 Italy 11 0.2 Japan 20¢ 0.4¢ Netherlands 57 4 New Zealand 8 1 Norway 102 24 Portugal 9 0.1 Spain 11 1 Sweden 61 1 Switzerland 35 7 United Kingdom 23 2 United States 13 5

I think it would have been difficult to set up the head of the IMF to do what he apparently did. Christine Lagarde, another French person, is expected to be his replacement

I don't for a moment believe that DSK was "set-up"- but, by the same token, I don't believe the U.S. was interested in minimising the fallout from the situation.

Dear davidf,

“I did brag about the US but in response to an attack”.

Nothing wrong with a bit of patriotism, been known to indulge in some myself on occasion. Does that make us’ emotionally manipulated’ or just scoundrels?

P.S. Congratulations on a top ten General Discussion thread over the last 12 months

Dear Poirot & csteele,

The sun is shining on the poinciana, the ixora, the passion fruit vines, the bromeliads, the cycads, the lomandra, the grevilleas, pineapple plants and all the other growing things I see outside my window. Blue skies and fleecy clouds are seen through the gums. My digestive track is quietly ingesting porridge, and a feeling of benevolence encompasses me. I cannot find even the smallest point to disagree with in your most recent posts, and I hope you feel as well as I do.

Dear csteele,

Where does one get the information on which threads get most responses?

David,
I can't help but respond in kind to such a positive post. Things look pretty good outside my window as well.
We're about to start a bit of "school" work in the form of some grammar and then a bit of weaving for art and craft.

Btw, my daughter's partner is from Missouri, and he's a lovely fella - my criticisms of the reigning world hegemony don't include a general dislike for American people who, like people everywhere, come in all flavours.

Hope your feeling of benevolence continues. : )