Since politics seems to have millions of visits on this board - I thought it might be an interesting seasonal topic for a thread.

I tend, as in many things as I get older, to reckon there are shades of grey between ITK's Tory beliefs and Hedda's socialist ones.

I've previously voted Lib Dem but won't anymore since they supported bombing innocent Libyans.

I feel Communism has many good points but practicality kicks in - as Blair (Eric) said "all animals are equal but some are more equal than others".

I'm split between socialism (socially) and capitalism (financially). I think the best Government is responsible capitalism; voluntary contributions for health, benefits, education and public services. People like Gates and Springsteen who contribute enormously without publicity or trying to buy image through charity.

Democracy doesn't work; punters vote for superficiality; nice hair, good teeth, regular smiles, fake sincerity. Easily fooled, the majority should not have the power to choose.

Media simply reflects the public lack of depth. Simplistic slogan headline policies don't work.

So who to run this? Difficult. How do we elect them? Benign autocracy on short terms (ten years) without family, friends or relatives involved. But who? Gaddafi, Saddam, Ben Ali, Mubarek; started well, got power, became corrupt.

I have hopes for tiny Tunisia. A chance to elect a charismatic leader, strong, non-religious (organised religion has many good points and many bad ones), fair, honest, honourable. Monarchy sometimes works, if restricted by social borders.

Here's to 2014.

if we lived in capitalism I'd be happy.

we live in the new corporate world (a new form of fascism). It's doomed to fail.

always has. always will.

You should read some conspiracies about Libya JK, seems pretty convincing that NATO, USA and UK were all in the Lockerbie bombing, Gaddaffi was innocent all the long. He did wonders for Libya which they didn't like, and wanted to change the banking system.

Bush and Blair hated Saddam has he controlled a lot of the oil market.

Remember there was no weapons found by Dr David Kelly but was found few days later, the cuts are wrist were not deep enough to kill him, Blair's secret service did it.

Communism always looked good on paper but in practise different story, the west hate it.