Can I wish you all a very happy Christmas?

RE: Can I wish you all a very happy Christmas?

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 14:18:01 GMT

[quote userid="9239" url="~/f/non-clinical-questions/30858/can-i-wish-you-all-a-very-happy-christmas/243299#243299"]I start to believe that democracy in its current form is failing and major decisions are done by elected officials who really are not much better informed and trained than us, normal people. [/quote]

Was just talking about this at dinner the other evening with a Canadian who felt that Putin manipulated social media so as to put Trump in power.

Personally, I don't buy that. But I DO think that social media is causing a breakdown of democracy.

In the past, the only platforms politicians had was one of half a dozen newspapers, and/or TV/radio news, which acted as a moderator, in particular focussing on policies.

Now social media has shifted the focus towards politicians' characters, and as we have seen, people who perhaps seem more relatable don't necessarily make the best leaders.

On top of which there are the staggering amounts of misinformation / opinion presented on social media as fact. I am not convinced that can be manipulated by a malicious force to give a certain result. But I certainly do think it makes it more likely that populist, polarising characters will get elected.

[quote userid="9239" url="~/f/non-clinical-questions/30858/can-i-wish-you-all-a-very-happy-christmas/243299#243299"]Or, as predicted by many, Ukraine will be left in the ditch (trenches) [/quote]

One can only pray not.

[quote userid="5012" url="~/f/non-clinical-questions/30858/can-i-wish-you-all-a-very-happy-christmas/243301#243301"]We need a new breed of politician or leader. [/quote]

I wonder how you would describe this new breed. Honest? Factual? Reliable? Or something else (what I mean is, I wonder if we need a new breed, or just more of the better quality ones).

RE: Can I wish you all a very happy Christmas?

Clive Ansell — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 09:51:55 GMT

[quote userid="9239" url="~/f/non-clinical-questions/30858/can-i-wish-you-all-a-very-happy-christmas/243299#243299"]I am positive that society somehow manages to survive in spite of politicians. I start to believe that democracy in its current form is failing and major decisions are done by elected officials who really are not much better informed and trained than us, normal people. [/quote]

I'm fairly sure we would all be better off without the current shower of self serving bandits (Recent scandal over PPE contracts spring to mind), but unfortunately Labour and the Lib-Dems have yet to come up with a credible alternative plan as far as I can see, so general election or not, unlikley to see any change anytime soon.

We need a new breed of politician or leader. Pipe dream though.

RE: Can I wish you all a very happy Christmas?

Dinu Catilina — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 08:35:18 GMT

Happy New Year everyone!

[quote userid="2100" url="~/f/non-clinical-questions/30858/can-i-wish-you-all-a-very-happy-christmas/243295#243295"]Putin is incapacitated and replaced by a more moderate figure who ends the Ukraine war,[/quote]

Or, as predicted by many, Ukraine will be left in the ditch (trenches) with an entire generation lost in a proxy war.

[quote userid="2100" url="~/f/non-clinical-questions/30858/can-i-wish-you-all-a-very-happy-christmas/243295#243295"]the international community comes together to rebuild the Gaza Strip as a two state solution.[/quote]

Good luck bringing back to life the almost 10000 dead children.

I am positive that society somehow manages to survive in spite of politicians. I start to believe that democracy in its current form is failing and major decisions are done by elected officials who really are not much better informed and trained than us, normal people.

RE: Can I wish you all a very happy Christmas?

Clive Ansell — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 16:33:14 GMT

[quote userid="2100" url="~/f/non-clinical-questions/30858/can-i-wish-you-all-a-very-happy-christmas/243295#243295"]My hopes for 2024: the cost of living crisis starts to ease off a bit more, Putin is incapacitated and replaced by a more moderate figure who ends the Ukraine war, Joe Biden and Donald Trump fail at the ballot box and the US at last gets a presidential president, and not a choice between a game show host or someone who really should be in a nursing home, Hamas gets eliminated and the international community comes together to rebuild the Gaza Strip as a two state solution. What else?[/quote]

Yep, all that, plus pigs might learn to run at 110mph, rotate, and then become airbourne.

One hope of salvation is a looming general election, but not convinced that Sir Keir or Sir Ed are up to the task?

RE: Can I wish you all a very happy Christmas?

Neil Wheadon — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 16:15:23 GMT

Learning that all politicians are in fact from Mars seems a little more likely than any of this.

In reality 2023 was a better year than most before, a decrease in world poverty for example. As I listened to the radio this morning as they talked about immigration yet again, I just wish everyone could be a little more positive

Neil

RE: Can I wish you all a very happy Christmas?

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 13:54:32 GMT

While I'm at it, a very Happy New Year to you all.

My hopes for 2024: the cost of living crisis starts to ease off a bit more, Putin is incapacitated and replaced by a more moderate figure who ends the Ukraine war, Joe Biden and Donald Trump fail at the ballot box and the US at last gets a presidential president, and not a choice between a game show host or someone who really should be in a nursing home, Hamas gets eliminated and the international community comes together to rebuild the Gaza Strip as a two state solution. What else?

RE: Can I wish you all a very happy Christmas?

Arlo Guthrie — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 16:40:36 GMT

Clare Tapsfield-Wright - well, we had a drinks party for what must have been 90-100 people last night, and I was standing there thinking a) I can't hear anything (I never can these days), b) still feeling like death warmed up, and c) I'd rather be in bed. But I soldiered on, avoided going Christmas crazy, consequently woke this morning without a hangover and feeling considerably better than I had all week. I think I'll be right as rain by Christmas Day. And so far, no sign of Mrs or Miss G getting what I had.

RE: Can I wish you all a very happy Christmas?

Clive Ansell — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 12:22:39 GMT

Happy Christmas to you all, and best wishes for 2024.

RE: Can I wish you all a very happy Christmas?

Derek Lyon — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 10:45:58 GMT

Same to you Arlo. Hope you feel better very soon. Happy Xmas

RE: Can I wish you all a very happy Christmas?

Coopers Wamae — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 15:45:41 GMT

Merry Christmas to you and the larger coalitions.

RE: Can I wish you all a very happy Christmas?

Lucy Fleming — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 14:39:25 GMT

Happy Christmas to all on here (and wishing all those of us covering the Christmas on calls to remain relatively unbothered...)

RE: Can I wish you all a very happy Christmas?

Andy Moores — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 09:05:35 GMT

Happy Christmas Arlo!

RE: Can I wish you all a very happy Christmas?

janine redman — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 23:39:01 GMT

Happy Christmas, hope you feel better soon

RE: Can I wish you all a very happy Christmas?

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 21:14:19 GMT

Happy Christmas Arlo , hope you feel better soon , at least you’ve got a good excuse not to go Christmas crazy , just don’t forget Mrs G , could be a long 2024 Hope your daughters are both doing well , all the best to all on VS forum

RE: Can I wish you all a very happy Christmas?

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 20:01:38 GMT

[quote userid="7269" url="~/f/non-clinical-questions/30858/can-i-wish-you-all-a-very-happy-christmas/243256#243256"]I also have a cold lurgy which is making me sound like a 40 a day smoker and a bit rubbish.[/quote]

Ha - I could resurface the M25 with what I’m producing at the moment! Day two of a fever, and the thing is, I can’t risk giving this to my daughter, who we are due to take out on Christmas day. Does anyone know how you tell when you’re past the infective stage. Still running a 40 degree fever when not on paracetamol.

RE: Can I wish you all a very happy Christmas?

Joyce Whitehead — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 19:08:00 GMT

And to you and yours Arlo. And everyone else of course. I also have a cold lurgy which is making me sound like a 40 a day smoker and a bit rubbish. But family start arriving tomorrow and I’m sure a glass or two of wine will help the demeanour. Only on call Boxing Day here which is much better than usual.

RE: Can I wish you all a very happy Christmas?

Mark Rowland — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 18:51:29 GMT

Happy Christmas to everyone (except the swathe of Scammers flooding me atm)

RE: Can I wish you all a very happy Christmas?

Kate Richardson — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 12:23:37 GMT

And a Happy Christmas to all the Guthrie family too