Jim K, please define 'stricter' your argument would only hold water if Chicago is a gun free enclave which I'm sure it isn't. The USA national obsession with gun ownership seems completely irrational based on a mass paranoia, the inviolability of the constitution and the power and influence of arms manufacturers and NRA.

"More Americans have died from guns in the US since 1968 than on battlefields of all the wars in American history" there is much to admire about America but your gun laws are a sick f*****g joke

For me this quote accepts that equality is aspirational and that all men (and women) are not created equal but that but that the application of justice in similar cases should be impartial and without prejudice. This is very clearly not the case.

The formal versus the substantive. By decontextualizing in print the press now (and potentially always) presents truths/facts devoid of context and therefore their true meaning. This is emphasised by talking heads. Combine this with a less discerning public who are more interested in having their views confirmed and not challenged, then those powerful enough to set the agenda have an easy ride. Journalism for profit cannot afford to be challenging and offensive to the paymasters. Those interested or discerning enough need to go hunting like a pig after truffles for good journalism.

If the consensus of opinion is that no U.S. election is straight then is it time for independent monitoring?

New Opiate of the masses? I'm off to keep up with the Kardashians.

Almost always? Be interesting to know what examples do not have an ulterior political motive and save humanity from what? The belief that a faith in science and god leads to collective and individual salvation?

What are the choices indeed? Hillary 'cross your fingers' Clinton, Donald 'the octopus' Trump and Gary 'what's Aleppo?' Johnson. May I suggest that money and power are the prerequisites for candidacy rather than honour and integrity - unfortunately. Possibly the fate of more than the country is at stake. The world waits with baited breath for the US to decide.

Truth has become a commodity that the powerful in society use economically on the premise that masses require protection from the truth and more importantly its consequences. It remains important to distinguish this from opinion though Mr Archer to justify behaving in the same old way towards our fragile planet and use of decreasing resources.

If I'm the Mick referred to then I'm still in Manchester.

It's hard to be vigilant with your head up your a**. Introspection and self interest rather than a lack of intelligence/intellect lead to political indifference and ultimately danger and destruction.

Law for lawyers profit and that a few privileged individuals rather than for what is just and fair is now seemingly the status quo in both civil and criminal courts in so called civilized western countries. For a slightly broader perspective - "Justice" is for those who can afford it not those who deserve it and litigation is seen as a means of reward, compensation and the pursuit of inflated damages. The 'artful' make profit from law as well as evade it. Contrast the citizens of Bhopal India attempts to gain justice and compensation from Union Carbide and Dow for the gas leak that killed thousands in one December night in 1984 and still causes pain and misery to thousands with the recent swift settlement of billions from BP to the USA for the environmental 'disaster' in the form of an oil leak that killed sea birds and ruined the prawn fishing season. Good luck to those who are now free to sue Saudi Arabia for damages in relation to it's role in 911 atrocities. Presumed good luck also for the innocent victims of violence in Iraq who may now feel justified in suing a nation (USA, UK) for the mass death and destruction caused by the pursuit of weapons of mass destruction that did not exist.

Absolutely! doing the right thing by itself is not enough, the motive must be right as well.

Chicken and egg argument but I can think of a few national leaders who would tick the 'in-sane' box as well as a few potential ones.

I wonder what else he worked out while he was hiding at the back of the wardrobe? I also wonder what the context of this quote is as in his major work the virtuous triumph and the devious and evil are ultimately vanquished - among other fantasies.

It's hard enough getting screwed against your will but when you don't even know who's screwing you so you can thank them for the privilege! Well, Mann Kalamazoo has it right - tax avoiding multinationals and international merchant banks creating debt and misery for all but the top 0.5 % while the mechanisms and institutions for wealth distribution are eroded. I'm off to the woods to whittle spoons and trade beans until E Archers predicted "bubble pop".

Does my bum look big in this? Did you have sex with that woman? Ha.... truth and it's consequences.

"the truth will set you free, but only when it is finished with you"

~ David Foster Wallace (Infinite Jest)

Interestingly very few comments regarding one of the greatest Americans who for me ranks alongside Ghandi and Mandella in terms of attempting to bring about political change through peaceful protest and intent.

Postmodernity in a nutshell.

There are a lot of starving and rotting people in the world and that's a truth. Food before principles. Natural law Mike N?

Thomas Aquinas differentiates between secular law, natural law and God's law. At the time of his writing the hierarchy was God, nature, secular. In terms of the laws by which man lives or is constrained to live his life in the west is secular or man made law devised, revised and improved to promote and protect the rights of the individual within society. Pretty sure the secular laws of government are the subject matter of this quote.

Sounds like Mike appreciates the interdependence between workforce and entrepreneur which should be for mutual benefit and not the exploitative relationships O'Leary describes.

Thatcher came to power in the UK in 1979 by making promises like this and then proceeded to attack the working man and dismantle the mechanisms of wealth distribution put in place by the post war Atlee government. She implemented economic and social policies based on Friedman Economics and the cult of the individual to a far greater extent than any other western power. Privatisation of essential public services and utilities as well as financial market de -regulation has progressively led to the UK becoming a monetarist rather than a mixed capital economy with 80% of GDP dependent on the service and financial sector. The Gap between rich and poor is ever widening and in work poverty and low pay is endemic as the predicted 'trickle down' effect of wealth creation via a smoke and mirrors economy did not materialize. Her governments presided over massive unemployment while simultaneously introducing legislation that decreased the powers of unions and workers rights . The industrial heartlands in the North of England and Scotland disappeared in 20 years and nothing has replaced them. Many people living in the UK today would love to be able to pay income tax (which is by far the fairest progressive tax system) but because of Thatcher and her policies do not have jobs to enable them to do so.

Well said Marc from Chicago. Ronnie had some good script writers though.

I seem to remember from history lessons that pre Christian Rome was a state that sought to exercise both worldwide (Europe, African and Asian as the world was then) military and economic control through its legions and its merchants. Does that fit the picture for any current 'state'? But well said Mr Archer in pointing out the fact that fascism is politically structural as well as the result of individual political influence and dominance. You can after all get rid of dictators by (in the case of Mussolini) stringing them up from a lamp post but the systems that facilitate their dominance remain in place for others to potentially use and exploit.