>I have to wonder, though, if Britain's old and new imperial
>escapades have anything to do with the mystery that Doug posed
>earlier: "The story of British decline is a very interesting one,
>and I'm curious why this inventiveness bore so little industrial
>fruit. I know the story of the ascendance of financial over
>manufacturing interests and the failure of British firms to get big
>and professionally managed enough, but I was eager to hear more,
>either solid history or airy speculation."
>
>My speculation is that Britain's enduring compulsion to be a global
>busybody has taken its toll of mundane matters like the national
>economy.
Yeah, but it didn't hurt the U.S., did it? Paul Kennedy's looking more obsolete than 80s power suits (for women).
Doug