Panic attack

Fresh measures to track terror suspects and strengthen airport security after the attempted Christmas Day bomb plot have been announced by Gordon Brown.

Sez the Beeb. Whatever happened to the British stiff upper lip? When other people in the world are having to deal with real problems, our elected leaders (aided by unelected mandarins and spin-doctors) are flapping around like clucking mother hens, just because some incompetent loon with a chip on his shoulder set fire to his underwear in a pathetic attempt to cause panic.

I fear the Pants Bomber and our elected leaders have rather too much in common, sharing both an uncritical propensity to act on the basis of weird, implausible fairy tales and the desire to scare people into obedient acquiescence.

"Panic Button" picture via Michael Greenwell, who has posted links to some interesting video content recently, including this thought-provoking film from a couple of years ago and this classic, hilarious TV chat show moment from way back when I were nobbut a young whippersnapper.