I've made a new release of the Own-Id code. There's no single big change, just an accumulation of small things. At the suggestion of John Murray I've changed the 'about' page to a FAQ. Let me know what you think.

Own-Id fact: there are now 88 OpenIds on Own-Id.

I read the article, but I have to admit I didn't really understand it!

But to answer your question, I think that democracy is the most important, then state funding of political parties supports democracy. Free markets are a good idea that democratic governments should implement.

Possibly the last time I read a book in the fantasy genre was at school in the 4th and 5th year when I'd go to the library to escape the rough bullying types, and congregate with the weedy misfits. David Eddings was one author I remember. From what I see …

Tony - read this link, and then tell me which is more important - free trade or democracy or paying for political parties?
http://mondediplo.com/1998/09/11negri

Happy New Year

Dave

Modern double glazing definitely stops one rather large pigeon, as I discovered when we came home from work to a rather feathery imprint on our window. As there was no carcass the pigeon in question must have flown off, so repeated attempts may have more impact as might a massed …

Personally, I think that agreeeing to agree on State funding is cop out - ie one doesn't have to worry any more about the elephant in the room.
The elephant in the room is the stranglehold corporations, mainly US have on all democratic governments.
Lets talk about that.
After all, it …

Well regardless of how bad it is, can we agree to state funding of political parties? We can't do much about the US, but we can and should reform the UK / EU.

Also, I'm in favour of the EU dropping its protectionist policies unilaterally. I wouldn't try and force other …

Tony - you say there is a danger of governments being bought> where have you been the last 35 years? Have you not noticed that in the US which is the benchmark democracy and which is pushing its dogmatic fee trade policy on the rest of us, is governed entirely by …

It's true that you'll never get totally free markets, but the freer they are the better.

You are right to attack EU protectionism. Let's scrap the Common Agricultural Policy!

You raise the problem of countries exporting food during a famine. This is why governments should redistribute the wealth generated by …

May I say I totally agree with your previous correspondent.

A further point is that in free markets the people who hold all the capital will basically manipulate investments to make them ever wealthier, including buying government policies as per US.

Free market advocates tend to use the imaginary non …