Ask or Answer.

I've heard a lot of talk about economic cycles over the last few weeks. The fiscal rules employed (and flouted) by the government were "over an economic cycle".

George Osbourne has talked about an Office for Fiscal Responsibility making sure spending is appropriate over a cycle.

I'm unsure what a cycle is - is it the time period of good growth and the time period of bad growth? Who decides?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7643364.stm

Paul Newman's daughter said, "The best way to remember my father is to be kind to someone".

What does being kind involve? Should being kind involve an action that you would not ordinarily do? Should a kind action be one where you do something that puts you out?

For instance, driving to church on Sunday you see an old lady walking along the pavement, you know that she is going to the same church, you stop and give her a lift. Is this a kind action or a normal action?

Or, for instance, you don't have a car, you are walking to church, it's raining, but you won't get too wet if you hurry, you catch up with that old lady, very slowly walking to church, you slow down to her pace, take her arm, and get soaking wet. Is this a kind action or a normal action?

Or, your wife is terribly ill, a terminal case, not long to go says the doctor, she's in pain, I hold a pillow over her face for a short time and she is, at last, at peace. Is this a kind action?

Or, Mary lives on the sreet, she is riddled with drugs, she is 6 weeks pregnant, the doctor says that the baby will be born with terrible disabilities, she has the baby aborted. Is this a kind action?