PETER HITCHENS: The dictators have taken over - and we didn't even notice

This is Peter Hitchens��� Mail on Sunday column

There was once a famous Chinese executioner so skilful with his razor-edged sword that crowds would pay to watch him behead criminals. 

One day he came to a small provincial town where the authorities had given him a large fee to do away with a notorious killer.

He entered the arena and made several elegant and delicate passes with his weapon. The condemned man sat gloomily before him, looking unimpressed with all this fuss. ���Just get on with...