This is an impressive Blog.  Impressive because of the number of subscribers and commentators.  Impressive because of the credentials of the authors, Simon Johnson and James Kwak, and impressive because of the quality of arguments presented by the authors and commentators and the force of reason that pushes back against the establishment.

Some of the content is quite technical although the Blog does have a good supply of articles to help those starting into the subject of the global economy.  But you could do no worse by starting with the article written by Simon and published in May 2009 in The Atlantic.  Called The Quiet Coup it is a masterful attempt at trying to explain where the real power lies in the US.  (And, as a Brit, I would not be surprised to see the same situation in the UK.)

Then ask yourself the questions: Is there any political integrity left?; Where is this ‘integrity’, or lack of, taking the US (and UK)?; What does the end-game look like?

By Paul Handover

• Politics