"It seems your only response to careful, informed argument i[s] ridicule and abuse, Ringer."

I don't know how you can discern that, mandotim, as there has been no "careful, informed argument" -- not, at least argument against the point I made, which was about the responsibility of government.

"[I] hope that you feel able to read around the subject a little more."

Now you're being patronising: you imply that I only take a view contrary to yours out of ignorance.

"You have a touching faith in the ability of elected governments to control things."

What on earth can I have said to make you think that? I have no faith in elected governments to do anything other than generate hot air. I believe, on the contrary, that there is nothing so bad that government interference cannot make it worse.

Nonetheless, when things go tits up, the government, which claims to be in control and sets up regulatory regimes ostensibly to keep businesses on the straight and narrow, must take responsibility.

One thing I'd have done if I had been Gordon Brown would be to have acknowledged I'd got it wrong & apologised. That's why I'll never make a politician.