First of all (and this is a serious problem on both sides of the Atlantic) why is it desirable to get your child in to a particular school? Why isn’t her/his local school up to standard? This is a class/race/cultural problem that is tricky to deal with, which has undoubtedly caused education establishments on both sides of the Pond to engage in much hand-wringing and little action. After all, they might offend somebody.

Second, how is it that the U.K. has become one continuous installation of CCTV cameras? Where were its citizens when this was going on? Mind you, there are places in the U.S. that are straining to catch up. Far too many people have been fooled into thinking that sacrificing enough liberty can ensure security. The U.S. patriot/icon Benjamin Franklin, I believe, said something on the order of “Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither.” (I expect, if I’ve got the quote wrong, that another commenter will correct me.)

He was right. There is no right more valuable than liberty.