So I massively failed to keep notes about what predictions are going to happen in the New Year. As they say, the ones that are important will stay with us.

Here on the Isle of Man we have an election year. So that could mean some kind of change. Or change disguised and hidden in not even fancy words. Seriously, I do think people want change. I don’t think it’s about left, right, or being in the middle any more. I just think people want things that work. Not just about an ordinary or mediocre way, but in an efficient, deserving manner.

They want health care that works and gets the job done. Nobody wants to be in hospitals any longer than they have to. However, to make that efficient would mean some uncomfortable truths about the price and quality we receive. Still, I think this is going to be an election point.

Boats and the cost of getting off the Island. One is always surprised that a private operator has not stepped in and offered a high-speed passenger boat to Liverpool. A hundred people at £50 is £5,000 per trip. Take off your costs—there has to be a good margin in there.

Accountability—this is where it gets really difficult, though. If 1/7 of the population works for the government, how much accountability do they really want? When everyone is your sister’s best or brother’s best friend, what are you going to do? Despite all that, I think that a large proportion of the island wants to know that they are paying market rates when a road is being resurfaced or that the Financial Ombudsman is value for money.

As always, time will tell.

With the development of prediction markets, you will even be able to put your money where your mouth is instead of venting on social media. Interesting times indeed.

So I massively failed to keep notes about what predictions are going to happen in the New Year. As they say, the ones that are important will stay with us.

Here on the Isle of Man we have an election year. So that could mean some kind of change. Or change disguised and hidden in not even fancy words. Seriously, I do think people want change. I don’t think it’s about left, right, or being in the middle any more. I just think people want things that work. Not just about an ordinary or mediocre way, but in an efficient, deserving manner.

They want health care that works and gets the job done. Nobody wants to be in hospitals any longer than they have to. However, to make that efficient would mean some uncomfortable truths about the price and quality we receive. Still, I think this is going to be an election point.

Boats and the cost of getting off the Island. One is always surprised that a private operator has not stepped in and offered a high-speed passenger boat to Liverpool. A hundred people at £50 is £5,000 per trip. Take off your costs—there has to be a good margin in there.

Accountability—this is where it gets really difficult, though. If 1/7 of the population works for the government, how much accountability do they really want? When everyone is your sister’s best or brother’s best friend, what are you going to do? Despite all that, I think that a large proportion of the island wants to know that they are paying market rates when a road is being resurfaced or that the Financial Ombudsman is value for money.

As always, time will tell.

With the development of prediction markets, you will even be able to put your money where your mouth is instead of venting on social media. Interesting times indeed.