It is indeed a new world, stepped away from government paternalism or any other "ism" except Capitalism. Taken from the long view, it had to happen; no modern country has the youthful workforce to support the gentler times some of us came to view as our birthright.

As many of even my coarsest critics have allowed, the educated youth of Britain were leaving in droves during that period - who was going to earn enough to pay the bills? It had to change. It hurt some very badly; you can read between the lines and hear of their anger, hurt and fear. But the youth are now staying, and have an investment in the future.

And those who would legislate "fair labor wages" do not understand, that with the speed of computers, the flash of cargo planes, and "Just in Time" inventories, those jobs will be in some jungle country we still can't land troops in, or hardly pronounce. The only thing that absolutely has to happen in your presence right now are the Last Rites, and a blow-job. Everything else is subject to negotiation over time, distance, or market shares.

It had to change, not for the rich, 'cause they could always leave, but for the poor who had to stay. How many British citizens who became rich stayed as citizens during that period? Hell, if you remember back, the only thing that out-numbered British ex-pats were American draft-dogers.

But as I first wrote above, not one government that followed her brought any of it back, and, even as some now are willing to move on, I do believe history will be kinder to her than those who still hurt...