Topolanek shrugged

It's not unusual for average people to lose interest in what's happening in government or in society as a whole. Daily life is so hectic that personal concerns understandably come first. But when the elite start to lose interest, something's wrong. The CR doesn't need more key people dropping out of society the way they did in Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged (which is celebrating its 50th year of publication this year). There was a real risk of this near the end of last year, after government talks had dragged on for so long. Even people who live and breathe politics were disgusted. The confirmation vote came in the nick of time and brought back some hope, but the festering sleaze around KDU- ČSL threatens a relapse. The problem isn't that Mirek Topolánek had to make concessions to form a government; the problem is that he doesn't know when to put his foot down and say enough is enough. [Czech Republic Prime Minister PM premier]