England is an overcrowded place and we got industrialisation before everywhere else. So we got its problems to the power of ten. The problem is that if you keep expanding the economy - the society keeps changing - so there is little stability.

its no use whining that its not 1952 an we can't send Len hutton out to bat for us, give the bounders a good hiding etc. the population has doubled since then - there have been two or three social revolutions. We used to sneer at America's problems - nowadays we realise those same problems are probably going to turn up on our doorstep in a three or four years time. that's a place where the economy moves on even more ruthlessly than our own - they probably need all those guns!

Incidentally its perhaps worth pointing out to all these fans of the birch and cane. that it wasn't activities by the do gooders or the children, who led to its dishonourable exit - it was the fact that adults couldn't be trusted with the power; used it excessively, and there were little hitlers all over the shop - who simply had to be disarmed.

Your economy has started to move Ard. When it becomes a really well known place for immigrants to aim for - things will really get into gear. See how well your culture copes then. We may not be brilliant - but we try and take care of our citizens, give them health care, and educate them as best we can - however no getting away from it, its a cold corner to stand around on. Lots of nice things in the shops, but not everyone can afford them. And I'm not just talking about material things - theres a lot of folk in our society whose only chance of a cultural toehold outside the gutter is to be a Big Brother contestant.