My Holiday Wish List

'Tis the season of wish lists, and since I will not be writing any more columns until after the holiday season, it seems the appropriate time to publish my wish list for the holiday season. Some are more plausible than others, but I tried to avoid clearly desirable things that are also clearly not going to happen in the next month (world peace, a world without hunger, etc.). But without further delay, here are eleven things I would like to see happen before the beginning of second semester on Jan. 15.

I would like to see:

1. A peaceful transition of power in Brazil on Jan. 1. Recently elected Lucio Inacio Lula da Silva of the left-wing Workers' Party will replace Fernando Cardoso of the centrist coalition as president, representing the first democratic change of power in Brazil's history.

2. Lula fulfill his promises to work with the IMF and maintain essentially orthodox economic policies, despite his radical roots. Anything less would send Brazil into absolute tailspin.

3. International investors cut him a little slack and give him time before assuming he's a protectionist commie. Lula deserves some time to prove himself.

4. Colin Powell continue to gain influence over security policy at Donald Rumsfeld's and Dick Cheney's expense. Powell won the fight to go through the UN and through Congress instead of attacking Iraq unilaterally _ but it seems that fight is not over.

5. Lawrence Lindsey and Glenn Hubbard continue to gain influence over economic policy at the expense of Mitch Daniels and Paul O'Neill. The economy cannot yet be given a clean bill of health, and the country needs qualified people in charge.

6. A nice wave of holiday cheer to bring consumer confidence and spending back up, and convince firms to start investing again. Consumer confidence hit a nine-year low in October, and is now rebounding. But consumer spending has its limits, and eventually private savings have to go up to cover our debts. Businesses have to do their part and start investing again.

7. An Iraqi defector reveal to the UN where Saddam Hussein is hiding his weapons. How else will weapons be found? Inspections, while positive, are unlikely to turn anything up.

8. Labor gain popularity in Israel for upcoming elections. The elections are not until late January, but a strong Labor presence is needed to curb the expansionist and belligerent tendencies of Ariel Sharon, recently elected to represent the Likud party, and sure to win the race for prime minister in two months. Labor has no hope of gaining a plurality, but it could increase its representation in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.

9. The ACC sweep the Big Ten in the upcoming ACC-Big Ten Challenge, and the Lakers get back into a playoff spot.

10. Britney Spears, caught on video tape, stealing the unabridged version of War and Peace from Borders.

And finally...

11. Everyone have a safe and happy holiday season.