Jamesian Philosophy Refreshed

On Wednesday, Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered what is known as the "Autumn statement" to the House of Commons. This is one of two economics-forecast statements each year. It was much anticipated. Parliament wanted to know what the government knows, or believes, about the consequences of Brexit. The Chancellor, and those who work under him at the Office for Budget Responsibility, haven't given many hostages to fortune in their statements, though. They assume that the UK will leave the European Union in April 2019. They guesstimate that the purely administrative costs of departure will amount to GB ₤ 412 million (around US$511 million). But on the critical issue of "passporting," they don't take a view. That is: in a "soft Brexit" scenario the banks headquartered in London will be able to negotiate for themselves or with the help of their government "passports" with the EU or constituent nations that will allow...

A detail from Max Hastings' new book, CATASTROPHE, about events leading to war, a century ago this year. A fellow named John Redmond, who had a reputation in the forefront of the independence movement for Ireland when the year 1914 began, forfeited that by preaching Anglo-Irish unity in the face of the Huns. John Redmond, leader of the Irish Home Rulers, made a supremely enlightened conciliatory gesture when he declared in the House of Commons: 'there are in Ireland two large bodies of Volunteers. One of them sprang into existence in the South. I say to the Government that they may tomorrow withdraw every one of their troops from Ireland. I say that the coasts of Ireland will be defended from foreign invasion by her sons, and for this purpose armed Nationalist Catholics in the South will be only too glad to join arms with the armed Protestant Ulstermen in the North.' Redmond sat down to deafening applause, but he proved to have thus forfeited his status a the stand...