TODAY is New Year's Day, when we look ahead and it doesn't cost a cent to hope and dream.

What would I like to see in the coming year?

Well, since you asked, I've got a list of things that would be welcome developments in the year 2013:

An end to state and national political strategy in which winning is defined as beating or damaging the other side. What happened to serving by solving problems for those you serve, Even if it means--gasp!--compromising?

A return of sorts for manners, grace and class. I'm tired of people snarling at each other in traffic, wearing their pajama bottoms to the grocery store and being generally too darned rude.

And not only do young people need to stop using foul language in public, those of us who hear them need to step up and insist they put a cork in it.

That we all do a better job of caring for one another, especially of those in great need. We need to do whatever it takes to feed the hungry, treat the wounded and mentally troubled and turn a kind eye to those in need.

For state leaders to get a backbone, raise our gas taxes and pay for our roads.

When you keep hearing about tolls and road borrowing and even indexing of the gas tax, it means there aren't Virginia politicians with enough courage to bite the bullet and bring in more road revenue.

I'm not talking extravagance or discretionary spending--our roads and bridges are crumbling and our leaders, scared of political consequences, are content to watch it happen.

An increased gas tax would let out-of-state drivers help foot the bill and not penalize drivers and certain regions with annoying tolls and bottlenecks.

An end to the obnoxious practice of blaring music in every restaurant, sporting event and shopping mall.

A little background music is OK, but when tunes are so loud you can't hear what the person next to you is saying, it's a real pain in the, um, ear.

The enactment of common-sense gun laws.