This is from 2010 so a bit dated now, although not as completely dated as the stuff from oD that I simply haven’t moved bothered linking to here at all (yes for the real completists there are still hidden treasures on open Democracy such as my musings on what would happen if Alan Johnson became Labour leader. In point of fact, he didn’t, and that was more or less the end of that.).
A short version of this was published by Guardian Comment is Free in both the online and print (yes print! No I never got paid!) editions.
jeremygilbertwriting 