I think I was nine when I rumbled Santa. I don't believe that wanting things is enough to make them happen.
Nor do I believe the often rolled out claim that with a bit of effort we can be anything we want. We all have talents. It's wise to take account of them.
But I do believe knowing what we want helps focus our efforts on achieving goals. So this is what I want for Christmas.
A government that cares about everyone
A government that complies with the law
A police force willing to investigate crime
An end to cronyism
Honest politicians
Better relations with the EU
Refugees being treated with dignity
Politicians who answer questions
And……
A government that invests in HEPA filtration to make our schools, hospitals, universities and others safe places to be
Clean air
Clean water
Clean politics
The resources required for HMRC and Companies House to tackle corruption
The requirement that we have the data to hold companies to account
And more…..
A government for everyone, and not just the few
A fair voting system
The right for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to decide if they want to leave the Union
And end to the House of Lords
And end to two party politics
The right for everyone to be represented by someone they voted for
And in case that's not enough …..
An end to lies about the size of the national debt
An end to austerity, which we do not need
A vision for a green transition
Proper foreign aid to address disease, poverty, inequality, distress, Covid, vaccine shortages and the climate crisis
Better education on tax and government funding
Wealth taxes to tackle inequality
And…..just in case I have not wanted enough
An end to misogyny
And racism in all its forms
Freedom from homophobia and all discrimination on the basis of gender and orientation
Religious tolerance
Respect for difference when that different view is held in good faith
Freedom from fear.
All that and more is what I want for Christmas.
That, and a smile, a hug and the familiar laughs of those that I love.
Happy Christmas.
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You’re going to need a bigger stocking.
Happy Xmas Richard, agree with everything on that list.
Agree with everything on that list.
Merry Christmas, Richard, to you and yours and all the very, very best for 2022. And thank you for all of your efforts this year.
And the same greetings to everyone who reads this blog.
Craig
Best wishes for the (not so very) festive Christmas and New Year.
Thanks
And to you….
Happy Christmas, Richard.
Merry Christmas, Richard…. also, to the other BTL contributors that make this blog so interesting.
It’s a long list you have written but (a) there is nothing there I disagree with and (b) nothing there that is unachievable. Some (eg. House of Lords reform) might take a while; others (eg honest politicians, end of intolerance) will always be “work in progress but YES – it is a good and reasonable wish list.
They are some of what this blog is about Clive (well, those and typos)
Happy Christmas
Thanks for your contributions
An impressive list Richard, but one I can also agree with. Thanks for your sterling efforts on this blog and your even more important work you do in your many others jobs!
Not that I can see much cause for cheer at the moment, but here’s hoping for christmas and the New Year. For you and everyone else who uses this blog.
🙂
Not sure where this fits into your (excellent) list Richard, but I loved this subversive story from George Monbiot today:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/24/dead-goldfish-licensed-waste-disposer-system-falling-apart
All best wishes for Christmas and the coming year, whatever it may bring, to you and all contibutors to your great & important blog.
Thanks
And good for George
Happy Christmas
I think the key to all of them is “Honest politicians.” If Santa could deliver that then the others would be so much easier to achieve. Then, perhaps the secret Santa at a No. 10 Christmas party could bring all the rest.
Merry Christmas, Richard, or, as I say to my Chinese relatives, 圣诞节快乐！
I will have to work on that one!
Have a good one
Have a lovely Christmas Richard to you and yours, and to everyone.
And to you John
Your contributions are appreciated
Last night John Snow left Channel Four. He will be a huge loss to the programme. What he represented was integrity humanity and respect in journalism. On his leaving programme he spoke of being sustained by a supportive team at Channel 4. I fear that in your case Richard you fight the good fight on your own and I worry that no-one could take your place if you ever became ill and those of us who follow this blog would be struggling to find anyone with your knowledge, wisdom, passion and intelligence. So it is delightful to hear that youmay be writing a new book and I look forward to buying it! But ,as others have said, your health is important. To you. And to us. Happy Christmas
Thanks
I do my best to protect my health
And as my wife (a retired GP) notes, I am pretty unusual to be 63 and to be on no regular medication at all
Merry Christmas
This makes interesting reading about Law, Order and Organosed Crime BTW
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/24/dead-goldfish-licensed-waste-disposer-system-falling-apart
I bet he is prosecuted
Happy Christmas all thanks for all the education and putting up with my blather!
I just want to stop being lied to daily by the politicians the compliant media and these who run our world for only their benefit.
Doesn’t feel very Christmasy and a good friend in ICU today getting fluid drained from chest (not Covid , a pre-existing condition got worse due to the latest spike keeping from getting to doctors earlier)
Still it is that time and we are making an effort as our leaders once again send us over the top to pile the bodies high!
Merry Xmas from Bozo the Killer clown !
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Fm5n27y0WmQ/maxresdefault.jpg
Final scene from Blackadder Goes Forth.
We must always preserve a sense of humour – sociopaths really don’t have any.
Your groans are appreciated… 🙂
Happy Christmas Richard, but can I add one more wish:
A free and independent press and MSM
🙂
Agree with all on the list, I might add, if Santa has a big enough sack – major international cooperation to curb and hold accountable all the huge corporations and governments that are holding up decisive action to reduce emissions to avoid climate disaster.
PS nuclear disarmament and an end to all war.
I thought it too obvious!
“The right for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to decide if they want to leave the Union.”
Actually we in Scotland already have that right, just not the right to ask ourselves if we want to use it.
I agree with everything in your list and others’ comments. One particular wish of mine, apart from proper infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists & wheelers and substantially reducing the number of vehicles on our roads, is a role for Citizens Assemblies in the governmental process. Although I fear that will take as long as reform of the HoL which was first mooted more than a hundred years ago.
Have a good Christmas and let’s hope for a better New Year.
A very happy, peaceful Christmas to you and everyone. Your list and everyones add ons are needed by Canada too!
Thanks Rosemary
Have a good Christmas Richard – so glad I found this blog this year.
That you dare to send such a long list to Putins’ Father Frost – or Merkel’s St Nicholas – or whoever he is, is a good illustration of your refreshing committment to going ‘the whole way’ which is almost breathtaking.
But it is also daunting – showing how far we are from what we want.
….And from one so young….
Thanks
Thank you Richard. A light in the dark.
Thanks Richard superb entertainment
Nollaig Cridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Ùr
Merry Christmas to Richard, his family, and to all men and women of good will – in whichever country or continent they may be!
Thank you
But I might need to redecorate the fiat (and that is a joke)
Richard Murphy as PM to implement all those wonderful ideas !!
When i visit the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival i get that lovely feeling of being surrounded by like minded people , i have the same feeling when i read your Blog each morning . my hope is your ideas filter out to many more people so we can change the narrative . Best wishes and thankyou to you Richard .
An excellent and pretty comprehensive list. Not unreasonable at all either. That our politics has moved so far away from those should be a deep concern to everyone.
I will add properly independent minded politicians instead of party hack lobby fodder. There is far too much of that, at Westminster and now at Holyrood in the unfocussed utterly on Independence SNP.
Your post sums it all up marvellously, Richard. Many thanks for stimulating us during the year.
And I wish a Happy Christmas to your good self, your family and all those who regularly contribute their thoughts here.
I think the New Year may require something stronger……
Been a long, difficult and Bozarre year. To cheer the family up I’ll put the list on the wall and tick them off as they happen or a least I’ll buy a pencil!
Happy Christmas.
🙂
All the best Richard (and to all the other regulars). And thanks for all the info and upstairs stimulation during the year. Lets hope you can tick off some progress on your list by this time next year.
Can I add the NHS back? An honest politician would just say he was selling it off to the USA. The latest on the NHS is that an ex-TSB CEO is to be made head of the NHS. Obviously he knows a lot about health and social care.
This appointment is sickening
Bit late, but Happy Christmas everyone.
Personally, I’d quite like to fully recover from COVID this Christmas, but that may have to wait until the new year. My best wishes to the many thousands also suffering.
Get well soon
Take care
This thing is dangerous whatever someone want to say