Merry Christmas

No politics - just gratitude, reflection and love

My Dear Readers,

Thank you all for bearing with me this year. My gratitude that nearly 1,500 of you have signed up to read my thoughts on politics (and nearly 50 of you are paying for the fortnightly extra posts) is sometimes overwhelming.

It’s not been my favourite year. Sometimes I think that paying as close attention to something that is so clearly failing as our politics has too much of a personal toll on me and I would like to learn to separate these a little more. Try to find balance and to get more rest and resilience.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of goodwill to all men (and women). I wonder if we aren’t just a little too unwilling a little too often to try to practice this in our politics. I know that I don’t often cut either the Tories or Labour the kind of slack I might like others to give me on occasion. I don’t see an election year - both here and in the US as the time that will start.

But I will try to remember that praise is as important as critique for the coming year. I should offer examples of where things are done well - even when they are things I disagree with. Trying to understand where my opponents are coming from in a good-faith way is part of trying to win the argument not just the battle.

I wish you all a very merry Christmas. I will be spending tomorrow with family and close friends and I hope you will be spending the day in ways that make you happy.

Merry Christmas

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What I’ve been up to

Two podcasts for you this week.

First of all House of Comments had a Christmas special looking back over the last year in politics.

Then to reflect on the death of Henry Kissinger, Zeitgeist Tapes looked at the brilliant if bleak Fail Safe.