The Whole World. Coming Together. In Sweet Harmony.

Gordon Brown's latest ramblings on the global economy:

He said: "I think we are fashioning for the future a global deal and grand bargain where each continent fulfils its responsibilities and its obligations and act to deal with what is a global problem."

Have you ever heard hyperbole like it? It reads like the refrain to a hippy song from 1967. Christ on a trike, Brown may as well have started singing "Give Peace a Chance". Or "Blowin' In The Wind."

And I'm not seeing much evidence that the leaders of other countries are really looking for pan-continental solutions to the recession. It doesn't seem to figure in their rhetoric at all. Maybe because they are more interested in governing their countries rather than positioning themselves as global superheroes who have saved the world. 

What Brown isn't saying - and, in fairness, what leaders across the world are desperately trying not to admit to - is that there is very little that can be done at this point to help the world economy. Talk of global deals and bargains sounds very nice, if you are easily convinced by rhetoric and are a bit dumb. But the best governments can actually do is work towards alleviating some of the worst excesses this global recession will have on their citizens. Any attempts to stop the direction of this perfectly natural downturn caused by years of excessive borrowing will only end up being costly mistakes.

As Gordon Brown seems determined to prove in this country.