Thomas Friedman had a terrific column in the NYTimes the other day in which he suggested that if he were to run for office it would be on one platform – to make America’s cellphone service work as well as that of Ghana. Amen.

Having just spent a week in NZ – better than the US on cellphone service (just) but with appalling broadband connectivity – I didn’t get many of my voicemail messages. In fact, one suddenly appeared at 1.20am this morning – our days later. In Silicon Valley – ground zero for all things technogy you can barely hold a call driving up its main arteries. It’s just pathetic. Never have I paid so much for such appaling service.

Mr Friedman, you’ve got my vote!

(btw, if the US ranks behind 15 other nations in terms of broadband connectivity, I can only imagine where NZ sits)