Tim Blair

Well done Steve Waugh, shame about the utterly tasteless headline. It does say alot about the qualities of Steve as a man that he takes an interest in an problem so far abroad. I'd bet he'd even enjoy a curry, unlike Shane "My mum made me do it" Warne.

And a less communisto account. `Waugh helped open the eyes' of his team-mates, `dragged them from the safety' of their hotels.Moron, the journalist.

Moreover, as Waugh recounted, his involvement with lepers stemmed from a letter slipped under his door.

Of course, that the elimination of the squalor to be observed,is bound up with economic transformation through open markets, rule of law is pointed. As also the BJP and Hindu religion, Islamic fundamentalism compounded by the tensions with Paksitan as an Islamic country, and the third religious faction, socialism.

Contrast Bangladesh, in which economic freedom is inducing radical improvements in the lives of many. Graneen Bank and it's business , supply of `micro-capial' has been central to this transformation.

Bangladesh provides another contrast, a stark one.While Bangladesh businessmen and the government is committed to economic liberty and, to further that,examining law, government and other institutions are consitent with economic freedom, Western governments are asserting a mercantilist notion of commerce, setting up barriers which, of some countries are increasingly resonant of autarchy.

The following things are occurring. Firstly, the Islamic and Hindu fundamentalist parties are in decline, a very rapid decline( which is pointed viz war on terrorism).Many once permanently indebted to village chiefs are now independent. Many, for whom squalor , risk of disease, and other horrid things, was an everyday relavity,have improved their lot considerable.These new capitalists ,financed by the bank, buy housing superior to that which they until very recently had to amke do with.They buy sanitation, including plumbing, they buy better food, they buy medicine and medical services.They also, in increasing numbers, sending their children on to become businessmen, doctors, engineers.This is a radical transformation.All, due to economic liberation.

India has received the rule of common law and the principle of quite limited government, ( furhter pointing up how ugly the breach of them is by Australain,British and U.S. governments is).The number of entrpeneurs in India is increasing very noticeably. Philanthropists assist Indians in modest circumstances to transform their own lives. And there are many other happy developments. But, that the religions of Islam, Hinduism and socialism have a hold on a large number of Indians is preventing even more rapid progress.Not least,becuase econoic liberty and complementary rule of (common )law are the only two things which delivers many from squalor.

I've been wondering when someone would draw attention to the SMH's headlines. They just keep getting stupider and stupider. Look at any issue and you'll find plenty of examples. This one is even more tasteless, vacuous and irrelevant than usual.

Headlines don't need to be cute: all they have to do is to give some meaningful indication of what the story that follows is about. Is this too much to ask?

You are a sick puppy, Blair!

True to my nickname, I would never have made the connection.
(even if I was thick enough to read the SMH)