Dr Atkins does politics much better than any of the politicians

THE BBC and the Mayor of New York attacked him last week. The American Beef Industry believe he’s rescuing them from Mad Cow Disease. The orange growers of Florida say he’s killing them.

No, we're not talking about John Kerry. Or President George W Bush. Or any other politician. Just an old doctor who lost his footing on an icy footpath, knocked himself unconscious and died. An old doctor named Robert Atkins.

Bill Gates is one illustration of how power and influence affecting the daily lives of millions no longer resides with politicians or at least not solely with politicians. The late Robert Atkins is another.