A top American political commentator has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister David Cameron's plans to create the 'Big Society.'
Ballantyne X Crepuscule is a former US presidential aide and is now a visiting professor in political science at the University of Thames Valley East.
In an article in December's Political Science Bugle,
he questions Mr Cameron's ambition - and argues that his vision is nothing new.
He writes: "Examining Cameron's policy, which he calls the 'Big Society' one is bound to question the man's ambition for his country.
"We have to ask: 'Why merely Big... what's wrong with Great?
"Off course, the problem here is that we have seen an attempt to create the 'Great Society' before. We remember Lyndon Johnson's efforts in the 1960's and his belief that the Great Society could be built in the United States.
"Perhaps Cameron is in awe of that name - Great Society - and baulks at trying to reach so high. So he goes for merely 'Big'.
"Surely the electorate of 'Great' Britain should expect grander thinking.
"Or maybe Cameron feels that size is an issue. Is Britain just too small geographically?
"In any case, it is a disappointment."
