low-hanging fruit

I be there are a heck of a lot of 'low-hanging fruit' that the government regulators can harvest nowadays!

the sound of breaking glass

OK, so in some ways the British are not nearly as sophisticated as Americans tend to give them credit. Foreign donation scandals by, essentially, frat buddies who enjoy getting so pissed they're randomly violent? Stiff upper lip indeed - it's swollen after you punched me, my good man! lol

However, in other ways, especially in matters of public debate yes, yes they are. Could you ever imagine that bus ad in the US? Heck, Top Gear simply said "NASCAR sucks!" and they were nearly lynched in the South. Fox News, fair and balanced as it is, would never air a "god" vs. "no-god" debate. So much for presenting two sides of an issue.

whither US innovation?

This is the kind of stuff University research would find hordes of undergrads to help study! Why aren't they?

always de-regulation. always.

That's what Republicans stand for. I am surprised, though, that the multi-billion-dollar entertainment industry wasn't able to get their way on this intellectual property initiative ... must be because they're all pinko commie liberals.