Forget politics so we can get Christmas done

Whose idea was it to have an election in the run up to Christmas? As if there wasn’t enough bad feeling and resentment about already with the increased shopping/ cleaning/cooking/job workload during the season of goodwill, we’ve had to contend with the ghosts of politics past, present and future too.

Politics Past saw Middle Child disillusioned: “I voted in indyref, Brexit, and in the last election, and no-one took any notice,” he said, and being of Generation Short Attention Span, he’s run out of patience.

“That’s why you have to keep voting,” I told him. “Or at least go along and spoil your paper if you must.”

“Yeah, you’ve got to vote,” said Eldest. “You’d complain if you were denied a vote, or if you didn’t get one like Youngest here,” I said.

“I’m not bothered,” she said. “It just makes everyone angry. At my work Christmas thing, people were going off on rants, like you do.”

“Do not.”

“Everyone who gets a vote just disagrees,” she continued, “and they’re still arguing about it afterwards. You and Middle and Eldest are disagreeing.”

“No, we’re not,” I said, irritated, pretending it was because I couldn’t find the sellotape.

“There’s a difference between a disagreement and a discussion,” and I switched on the TV in the hope of political enlightenment. A panel discussion on the effect of fake news and social media on politics concluded that our fundamental trust in politicians has been shattered.

“Good!” said Youngest, unexpectedly, looking up from wrapping presents.

“How come? Isn’t it terrible if everyone thinks politicians are all liars?”

“No, it’s good,” she said. “‘Cos if everyone thinks they’re lying, they don’t trust them and they’re not fooled by anything they say.”

“So it’s all a lot of bah humbug, lies and tactical voting and double bluffs?”

“Dunno what that is, but probably. That’s why I’m glad I don’t have to vote yet... but I will.”

She’s right. Politics future is a scary place, but in the meantime can we please forget about politics, people, and just get Xmas done? ■