Resolutions for the New Year

Your correspondent knows better than to waste his time making New Year's resolutions which, probably sooner rather than later, he will disavow because they commit him to activities that are time consuming, expensive, healthy or boring. Besides, the result is too often embarrassment when he finds himself abandoning such resolutions.

He is, however, not above dreaming up resolutions that he would like to see other people adopt. Here are a few:

• For newly elected Republicans: realise that Senate Democrats have the votes to deny repeal of the so-called Affordable Health Care Act (ObamaCare) and, even if there are sufficient defectors to pass a bill, an unachievable two thirds majority is required to override President Obama's veto.
• For journalists: resolve to reduce the number of cliches and tautologies.The term 'veto pen' is a gross irritant, while 'snow blizzard' wins the 2010 prize for redundancy
• For all politicians - particularly Democrats: spend a little time reflecting on the idea that Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, rich as they are, both work really hard and are Americans. Doesn't that make them 'working Americans'?
• For all consumers: realise that 'Buy Now, Pay Later' has governed spending for too long. Comedian Will Rogers was ahead of his time when, in 1928, he anticipated our most recent thirty year spending binge with these words: "Spending money we have not earned, to buy things we do not need, to impress people we do not like." Save first and spend later.
• For Tea Partiers, who believe that the budget can be balanced if only waste, fraud, abuse, earmarks and the Departments of Energy and Education are eliminated: know that it will be a lot harder than that. Many sacred cows must die and oxen be gored before the objective can be achieved.
• For all those who are devout: remember that love, not hate, is the essential message of every religion.
• Finally, for those who still believe in Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and free lunches: know that Charles Ponzi is dead but his successors are waiting for you.

Wish lists, of course, are exactly that. Your correspondent is not entirely pessimistic but is, unfortunately, not certain that much in the way of change will actually occur in the next year. He would be pleased to be proven wrong.