One point though — I’m not sure you’ve fully explored the potential fallout if eastern Europe is left to its own devices. Unlike New York City, there are other political entities with interests in the region and not aiding them may drive them into their arms.

By this, of course, I mean Russia. Putin et al would love nothing more, I suspect, than to see central and eastern Europe rejected in the same way they were, following the fall of the Soviet Union.

People fear change and hard times and if you give them any alternative whatsoever, in tough times they’ll take it.

Best to you. Keep up the great work on the column.

The Second Law of Human-Dynamics is that atrophy in a society always increases with time.

I think these two laws explain pretty much the whole article.

But his handling of this crisis has been misguided and amateurish at best. His selection of Administration members, like Geithner, leave one shaking their head. Having won the popular election by only 3 million votes (if memory serves), coming on the heels of the disastrous Bush administration and running against a generally pedestrian ticket in McCain and Palin, rumours of the Republican’s demise are greatly exaggerated.

The only cure for a depression is a depression, I once read. How frightening that must be in the corridors of power in Washington nowadays.

C

In the not-too-distant future, when the Deficit Trials are held, those officials will rue the day they decided to “serve” their country.

It will make for entertaining television.