Happy new year to our readers and welcome to 2023. It was one year ago today that, after discussions over Christmas dinner, Dad and I started Comment is Freed (I take full responsibility for the pun). The idea was to have somewhere to write longer pieces on topics that wouldn’t get commissioned, at least not at that length. To our surprise it has taken off to the extent that it’s become a regular, and fun, commitment for both of us. Between us we’ve written 114 pieces, with in total around 5 million views, and attracted over 23,000 subscribers (free and paid). We thank all of you who have supported us.
Hello to you both. I first accessed your platform via Paul Wells [Canadian journalist also on Substack whom I also follow). I was particularly interested in Dad's Ukranian posts. And now I am hooked. As a Canadian I can see the similarities between the NHS and our troubled, underfunded healthcare system. Many other subjects have given me a different perspective. Good to have an open mind, Thank you both for the excellent and essential work you are doing.
Sam, I have loved reading the articles from you and your dad. Knowing you, I can hear you speaking as I read! I like the breadth of topics covered in your Substack pieces, in the same way that I turn first to Simon Tisdall's comment piece in the Observer every Sunday, which provides such breadth and depth on foreign policy issues. It would be good to hear from Lawrence about conflicts in other parts of the world, in addition to his great insights on Ukraine and Russia.
At home, I look forward to your thoughts on the NHS and it won't surprise you to know that a piece on future education policy would be welcome - What should a successful comprehensive school system look like in the second quarter of the 21st century? What should be the government's role in the school system (definitely less than at present, but how, and how much less)?
Every good wish for 2023 and keep up the good work,
Thanks for this useful perspective on the past, and looking forward to 2023. I shall be particularly interested in your forthcoming analysis of the UK's NHS. Canada also has a predominantly public health care system and it is facing some of the same critical issues as is the NHS. I suspect there are likely some common causes of the most obvious problems. You are correct that this is a complex area, but our health and welfare depends on finding better diagnosis of systemic problems and solutions than we seem to have come up with to date. My concern here in Canada is how much worse it will get before it gets better, and whether our politicians have any more imagination than to go down the disastrous rabbit hole of the American so-called "system".
A comment on the content: “Putin continues to fight a war he can neither win nor afford to lose”, true. In Lawrence’s book “Command” he describes how Saddam Hussein declared himself the winner after losing the Iran war and again when he lost the Kuwait war. Maybe that will be a way out for Putin?
I'd be interested to see some work on how Brexit interplays with normal political processes - for instance I don't think the next Labour leader gets through a membership vote without committing to the Single Market - equally would a Conservative leader get elected without promising to retain Hard Brexit even if it became clear this was an election-losing position?
There's been a lot of stuff on public opinion on Brexit and a lot on what the positions "ought" to be from the perspective of the good of the country but not much on how this interacts with the normal political process.
Happy New Year to you both. I joined shortly after reading your dads 'Reckless Gamble' article, having recognised his name from my University days (I did an MA was in Intelligence and Security Studies after I left the Army, and his book 'Strategy' was a core text). Your Substack is the best £3.50 I spend each month, and although I joined primarily for the articles on the Russian invasion of Ukraine I have thoroughly enjoyed your articles on UK politics (to use terminology more normally associated with the former topic, I think it is fair to say that UK politics has been a 'target rich environment' in 2022). I now work in emergency planning for the NHS, so am particularly looking forward to your article on the NHS next year. Wishing you all the very best for 2023!
I look forward to your independent articles about the NHS in particular. As you have already alluded to, it is a minefield of complexity and a political jigsaw but also one of the most important elements of our UK lives supporting our families and friends when they become ill or need help.
The NHS is most often written about with so called 'expert opinion' or by people from within the NHS 'system' and is therefore usually immensely biased and skewed to their own personal experience. It would be refreshing to read an article that highlights what the general public are thinking and also hoping might be asked.
From my personal perspective i see the NHS as a wholly compartmentalised and entrenched organisation that despite 'National' perspective is almost tribal within its borders, whether that be service provider/hospital department, GP surgery, specialty or regional services. What started as a National Service has become a local geopolitical football that tries to adhere to National priorities whilst juggling regional and local needs with seriously challenging financial constraints that have been in place for as long as I can remember, whoever was in political office.
I don't remember how I stumbled upon your Substack but I'm glad I did. As an Australian my knowledge of UK politics isn't as extensive as my interest in the US but Sam's definitely stoked up an interest. 2022 was a very ... entertaining year in that department.
I'm well pleased to financially support this work if it'll help keep it going.
Only a recent joiner, think late November so I didn't realise that Jeremy was your father, I thought he was your brother!
Thank you both for your articles and for keeping the cost rather low, it is much appreciated. Your articles are brilliant and I've thoroughly enjoyed reading them. I hope you have a happy and successful 2023
Thank you to both you and your Dad. I'm so glad to receive your insights and thoughts, which add depth and knowledge to my own limited understanding of often complex issues. The comments from others are also an additional and welcome resource. Very best wishes for 2023.
Happy new year from America (specifically, the beautiful beaches of New Jersey). Many thanks to you and Lawrence for your indispensable, compulsively readable newsletter. I'm especially looking forward to your observations on the NHS. The healthcare system in the USA is dysfunctional in many ways, so much so that our life expectancy is dropping and maternal mortality rates remain a scandal. Serious, fresh thinking about national heathcare is sorely needed--we have much to learn on our side of the Atlantic. Lawrence's clear thinking about Ukraine is a North star for this reader and, I'm sure, many others. Please keep the great writing coming!
Many thanks Sam.
Hello to you both. I first accessed your platform via Paul Wells [Canadian journalist also on Substack whom I also follow). I was particularly interested in Dad's Ukranian posts. And now I am hooked. As a Canadian I can see the similarities between the NHS and our troubled, underfunded healthcare system. Many other subjects have given me a different perspective. Good to have an open mind, Thank you both for the excellent and essential work you are doing.
Kathleen
Sam, I have loved reading the articles from you and your dad. Knowing you, I can hear you speaking as I read! I like the breadth of topics covered in your Substack pieces, in the same way that I turn first to Simon Tisdall's comment piece in the Observer every Sunday, which provides such breadth and depth on foreign policy issues. It would be good to hear from Lawrence about conflicts in other parts of the world, in addition to his great insights on Ukraine and Russia.
At home, I look forward to your thoughts on the NHS and it won't surprise you to know that a piece on future education policy would be welcome - What should a successful comprehensive school system look like in the second quarter of the 21st century? What should be the government's role in the school system (definitely less than at present, but how, and how much less)?
Every good wish for 2023 and keep up the good work,
John
Thanks for this useful perspective on the past, and looking forward to 2023. I shall be particularly interested in your forthcoming analysis of the UK's NHS. Canada also has a predominantly public health care system and it is facing some of the same critical issues as is the NHS. I suspect there are likely some common causes of the most obvious problems. You are correct that this is a complex area, but our health and welfare depends on finding better diagnosis of systemic problems and solutions than we seem to have come up with to date. My concern here in Canada is how much worse it will get before it gets better, and whether our politicians have any more imagination than to go down the disastrous rabbit hole of the American so-called "system".
Thanks to both of you for your insights!
A comment on the content: “Putin continues to fight a war he can neither win nor afford to lose”, true. In Lawrence’s book “Command” he describes how Saddam Hussein declared himself the winner after losing the Iran war and again when he lost the Kuwait war. Maybe that will be a way out for Putin?
I'd be interested to see some work on how Brexit interplays with normal political processes - for instance I don't think the next Labour leader gets through a membership vote without committing to the Single Market - equally would a Conservative leader get elected without promising to retain Hard Brexit even if it became clear this was an election-losing position?
There's been a lot of stuff on public opinion on Brexit and a lot on what the positions "ought" to be from the perspective of the good of the country but not much on how this interacts with the normal political process.
Happy New Year to you both. I joined shortly after reading your dads 'Reckless Gamble' article, having recognised his name from my University days (I did an MA was in Intelligence and Security Studies after I left the Army, and his book 'Strategy' was a core text). Your Substack is the best £3.50 I spend each month, and although I joined primarily for the articles on the Russian invasion of Ukraine I have thoroughly enjoyed your articles on UK politics (to use terminology more normally associated with the former topic, I think it is fair to say that UK politics has been a 'target rich environment' in 2022). I now work in emergency planning for the NHS, so am particularly looking forward to your article on the NHS next year. Wishing you all the very best for 2023!
Great stuff Sam and Jeremy.
I look forward to your independent articles about the NHS in particular. As you have already alluded to, it is a minefield of complexity and a political jigsaw but also one of the most important elements of our UK lives supporting our families and friends when they become ill or need help.
The NHS is most often written about with so called 'expert opinion' or by people from within the NHS 'system' and is therefore usually immensely biased and skewed to their own personal experience. It would be refreshing to read an article that highlights what the general public are thinking and also hoping might be asked.
From my personal perspective i see the NHS as a wholly compartmentalised and entrenched organisation that despite 'National' perspective is almost tribal within its borders, whether that be service provider/hospital department, GP surgery, specialty or regional services. What started as a National Service has become a local geopolitical football that tries to adhere to National priorities whilst juggling regional and local needs with seriously challenging financial constraints that have been in place for as long as I can remember, whoever was in political office.
I don't remember how I stumbled upon your Substack but I'm glad I did. As an Australian my knowledge of UK politics isn't as extensive as my interest in the US but Sam's definitely stoked up an interest. 2022 was a very ... entertaining year in that department.
I'm well pleased to financially support this work if it'll help keep it going.
Keep up the good work, Sam. Agree Substack is a fantastic platform.
Only a recent joiner, think late November so I didn't realise that Jeremy was your father, I thought he was your brother!
Thank you both for your articles and for keeping the cost rather low, it is much appreciated. Your articles are brilliant and I've thoroughly enjoyed reading them. I hope you have a happy and successful 2023
Thank you to both you and your Dad. I'm so glad to receive your insights and thoughts, which add depth and knowledge to my own limited understanding of often complex issues. The comments from others are also an additional and welcome resource. Very best wishes for 2023.
Happy new year from America (specifically, the beautiful beaches of New Jersey). Many thanks to you and Lawrence for your indispensable, compulsively readable newsletter. I'm especially looking forward to your observations on the NHS. The healthcare system in the USA is dysfunctional in many ways, so much so that our life expectancy is dropping and maternal mortality rates remain a scandal. Serious, fresh thinking about national heathcare is sorely needed--we have much to learn on our side of the Atlantic. Lawrence's clear thinking about Ukraine is a North star for this reader and, I'm sure, many others. Please keep the great writing coming!
Sam,
Could I ask how you upgrade to Founder status ?
HNY to you both.