Last night I observed one of my personal Christmas rituals and watched Jimmy Stewart save Bedford Falls from becoming Portersville in the character of angelic George Bailey for the hundredth time.For those of you who haven’t seen the film “It’s a Wonderful Life” here is a short synopsis:
Every Christmas, George Bailey gives up on life, under the strain of financial pressure. He gets drunk, rowdy, crashes his car and tries to commit suicide thinking that his life in the little town of Bedford Falls has made no difference to anyone.
He is saved by Clarence Odbody (Angel 2nd Class – assigned to the issue in order to get his wings) who shows him how life would have been in Bedford Falls if he (George Bailey) hadn’t existed.
George Bailey runs an affordable housing project for the working poor of Bedford Falls. As it turns out, he has saved the town several times from the clutches of Henry F. Potter, a heartless capitalist slumlord whose intent is to stop providing home loans for the working poor thus creating a two-tier society and amassing the wealth of the town.
This year I felt uneasy whilst watching the film. As if somehow it echoed reality a little too much.
When it was over I fell asleep on the couch and dreamt in old Hollywood studio black and white.
Suddenly I was in London; in the House of Commons watching the vote to remove the cap from tuition fees (allowing them to reach heights of £6 to £9k per year) take place.
I ran on to the street alarmed. It was snowing heavily and I had to walk for miles before I found a cab. I asked the driver to take me to Number 10.
A newspaper on the seat next to me confirmed the vote had been passed. When I tried to talk about it to the driver he cut me short and told me:
“Life is not fair. There have always been rich and poor. People should stop looking for charity and work for the things they have.”
I told him that I wasn’t talking about charity but affordability. A society where no matter what your earning power is you can achieve the basics (Housing – Education – Employment) with relative ease. These are not privileges, they are rights.
A society where those of modest means can still make plans for a better life.
I asked the cab driver if he had children and if he, being a working class man, could afford £27k per child to go to University? He didn’t answer. We had arrived at our destination.
The door of Number 10 was ajar. I slipped in and walked towards a room where loud voices where coming from.
I opened the door to see Henry F. Potter, Nick Clegg and David Cameron sitting on enormous leather armchairs. A large crow walked up and down the table between them and tea had just been served. They didn’t seem surprised to see me.
Where is George Bailey? I asked
They laughed at me, which in my dream infuriated me and made me start shouting and asking them over and over: "Where is George Bailey?"
Henry F. Potter looked at me with that awful familiar smirk on his face and said:
“In a reality without angels no one is there to help the George Baileys of this world. Things can get done”.
Just at that moment a rock broke through the window and hit the crow that was walking up and down the table. The four of us rushed to see where it had come from. There they were, thousands of young George Baileys marching up the street in demonstration.
“Sorry Mr. Potter, I think I just found what I’m looking for”; I said as I opened the window and jumped out.
As always, George Bailey was there to catch me and save the day.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
