Dr Dims 'Alternative' Christmas Message

Christmas is traditionally a time for giving, sharing and extending peace to all men [sic]. In a time of advanced materialism and personal gain we could ask if this does any longer have any bearing whatsoever in our everyday lives? I would contend that giving and sharing may be about to form a part of a new kind of socioeconomic system which could supplant particularly global capitalism and find a place somewhere between the previous goalposts of capitalism and socialism. Numerous citizens are beginning to realise the benefits of sharing especially when coupled with the Internet to find like minded souls among disparate communities. Of course, this is not to say that the local should necessarily be eschewed for the 'less local' (I hesitate to say global otherwise we would be back where we started). Indeed, local economies could become essential parts of a devolved politics forming power bases far from the current influences of capital cities, for instance, thus further enabling more regional economies with concomitant narrower social segregation...And this is important for increasingly segregation is being 'blamed' for the ever widening gaps between our communities. If power could ideally be reinstated in the hands of those communities then it is the contention that segregation and the resulting ostracised communities could be welcomed back into the fold. This could create, for instance, fewer reasons for communities - of whatever religious or ideological persuasion - to be inclined to demonstrate their dissent especially through violent means. Hence, we arrive at the conclusion that if the current tendency to create a 'sharing economy' was to take a firm hold in the modern psyche then it may eventually lead to increased peace and security for all those upon this delicately poised globe. So, there are some important lessons to be learning from Christmas which, after all, was what it was all originally about. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! DD.