Happy Christmas

Dear ,

Happy Christmas from us. 2016 has been a big year, and I can see 2017 being even bigger.

From Brexit, to our own federal election, and then the election of Donald Trump, the year was one where the established order was upended, and the wise, the rich and the famous made to look foolish. That should lead to a lot of self-examination, and opportunities to provide new and better policy solutions to intractable problems.

It’s obscured in the way we celebrate the festival, but disruption to the established order is exactly what Christmas is about.

The young mum in the hijab, and her husband in a conquered and occupied country, too unconnected and poor to even organise a proper lodging, being visited to celebrate the birth of their child by everyone from the lowest of the low, in from the fields, to wise men from the East, and angels, probably never happened like that.

But its message is clear. Ultimate power comes from the most overlooked of places.

My favourite hymn from this time of the year is the Song of Mary. The words are put in her mouth at the moment that she finds she is to be a potentially unmarried mother in a civilisation that stones people for sex outside of marriage. It embodies the spirit that a liberal (in the proper sense of the word) think tank that exists to advance progress should display. It is also the spirit driving the democratic revolutions of the last 500 years.

…From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty….

You don’t have to be a Christian to get the beauty of this apocalyptic vision – a world where people will be valued for who they are not who they are related to, how much they have, or what they do. It should appeal to all of us, whether we call ourselves libertarians, liberals or conservatives.

So happy Christmas, and here’s to lots more disruption in the New Year and a chance to progress in the right direction, hopefully a little faster than usual.

Cheers,

Graham Young
Executive Director
Australian Institute for Progress