Unease in the land of the free

The good news is that the Republic has been ranked third behind Hong Kong and Singapore in a US index of "economic freedom" in…

The good news is that the Republic has been ranked third behind Hong Kong and Singapore in a US index of "economic freedom" in a survey sponsored by the Wall Street Journal.

The Margin urges caution, however, before the party begin. Economically "free" Hong Kong and Singapore may be, but limitations on democracy mean they are not politically free.

If the Republic is placed any higher next year, maybe a little worry might be justified.