Scrooge, Glorious Scrooge!

I thought that in anticipation of the festive week ahead I’d spread some Christmas cheerlessness. Yes, you read it right, I said “cheerlessness”.

At home in the past two days my family and I have already watched two different versions of the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol” on TV — the Alistair Sim original “Scrooge” preceded by the Bill Murray modern-day (well 1988) re-telling titled “Scrooged”. I do love this story, and the more I watch it, the more I convince myself that… Scrooge woz right!

As far as I can tell, he wasn’t so bad. He kept himself to himself, told no-one else how to live life, paid his taxes, employed people (at least one), and saved his money so as never to become dependent on the welfare of others. He did refuse to “give generously” when the Christmas charity collectors came calling; but shouldn’t charity be voluntary rather than on-demand, and are the needy not equally worthy of support — or not, as the case may be — all year round?

One of the most interesting scenes is the one in which Scrooge’s former housekeeper, plus the undertaker and some other connected lady take the late miser’s bed curtains and some other of his belongings (which they have effectively stolen from his heirs) to be sold to line their own pockets; as though this law-breaking was somehow fair recompense for his lifelong miserliness. As far as I know, Ebeneezer Scrooge himself never ever broke the law in the way that these supposedly “good” people did.

Mr. Scrooge does turn “good” in the end, of course, but in a sense he can only afford to do this because in order to give it away, you’ve got to make it first! Which is a sentiment, no doubt, that the likes of Warren Buffett and Bill Gates can relate to.

For my part, I reckon I’m “doing good” right now when I’m selling, by providing a counter-party for those who wish to buy… which might be your pension scheme. And on my current losing form I’m keeping the shareholders and employees of the spread betting firm(s) in the style to which they have become accustomed, by boosting their profits. How generous of me! And when it comes to trading education, I’m leading by example (whichever way it goes) here at no cost to you.

So lest I be unfairly regarded as a modern-day Ebeneezer Scrooge, let me tell you that I too am full of the Christmas spirit. Hey, I’ve already watched two versions of “A Christmas Carol” and we have at least three more versions to go this week. I went to the local church “Christmas Carol” (no pun) concert the other evening, if only because our daughter was singing a solo piece. Heck, I’m so festive already, I feel like shouting out of the window to the Tesco delivery man…

“Boy! Fetch me the biggest turkey from the van!”