Commentary on Mitt’s poor homework, India’s failed institutions, ending public monopoly in health care delivery, China gets ready to prime the pump, Gore Vidal, and a discussion about the provincial election in Quebec.

Mitt, did you actually read the book? (ed’s note – like John Tory and his hapless foray into allowing public funding of religious schools in Ontario, politicians often reflect the coffee party and dinner table conversations of supporters. Beware.)

New York Times -- Romney Hasn’t Done His Homework
MITT ROMNEY’S latest controversial remark, about the role of culture in explaining why some countries are rich and powerful while others are poor and weak, has attracted much comment.

Related.

Sarah Palin Katie Couric Interview

Crack in another BRIC.

Financial Times -- Fantasies of power in muddle-along India
The day the power went off in Delhi and northern India, I was at home in Bangalore, a city that fortunately escaped the blackout.

Changing health care delivery in the United Kingdom.

Telegraph -- A revolution on the wards that could heal our public services
One Cambridge hospital shows what can be achieved by ending the curse of state monopolies.

Stimulate.

Telegraph -- China prepares vast stimulus as slump threatens Asia
China has ditched its reform strategy and prepared a vast stimulus package as the country’s soft-landing turns uncomfortably hard, with recession warnings flashing across East Asia.

Gore Vidal dead at 86.

Independent -- Gore Vidal: 'A keeper of the national conscience'
Gore Vidal, a larger-than-life literary institution who was always willing to speak up and hold his government accountable.

 

Guardian – Gore Vidal’s best quotes

 

Gay Ben Hur

 

New York Times Obituary – Gore Vidal

Two solitudes.

Globe and Mail -- The Quebec Diaries: Why daycare trumps the economy
Throughout the Quebec election, Globe and Mail columnist John Ibbitson and La Presse editor-in-chief André Pratte will engage in an online discussion on the issues arising in the campaign. Today, they discuss how daycare could trump the economy.