Impromptus today has an item on “health and safety,” the nanny-statism of modern Britain. The stories are endless, and I have a few in my mailbag. For example, a reader writes,

Last year I worked as a physics teacher for an independent school in London. Wanting to perform a classic freefall demonstration for my students, I requested to borrow a ladder from the custodial supervisor.
“Have you had ladder training?”
“No. What? Ladder training? You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Not kidding. Health and safety, you know. Check with the H&S officer. There might be another session this year.”
So I just stood on a table.

And a reader writes to remind us of this story, concerning padded lampposts. Padded lampposts? Oh, yes: to protect clueless, texting pedestrians.

I’ve had the thought a thousand times, and maybe you have, too: Is not a society like today’s Britain ripe for devouring? Is this a people that can possibly withstand jihad? If they’re squeamish about ladders?