Normally, I am a mild-mannered man, quite placid by nature and reasonably tolerant to the views of others. However.....
..............there have been some issues lately that for some reason have started to make me feel really Angry.
Arms and The Man
When it comes to gun laws, there seems to be no middle ground for Americans. You're either for 'em or a'gin 'em. Statistics come into their own here: but we know what lies statistics tell.  Pro-gunnies will argue that guns don't kill people? Really? But, of course, silly me, it isn't the gun, is it? No, its the person who owns the gun, holds it, aims it and fires it. Anti-Gunnies will quote how many people in the US have been killed by guns and point out the immense difference with European countries. What they don't make clear - and what I have no idea of - is how do those figures stand up per capita? Other arguments are that Law abiding Citizens do -and therefore, should - have the right to bear arms to protect themselves. It is only the criminal classes who misuse them. Take away a legal gun and you have a vulnerable Law Abiding Citizen. Up to the point that a man/woman takes out their legally possessed gun and starts taking pot shots at members of the public - including children - they are Law Abiding Citizens.

Enough already. I'm getting Angry. Again. My own views? Take away the guns; diminish the chances of tragedies.

Politics.
People should stay out of politics. Unless they actually know something about it. Which so few do. They vote a particular way because they always have, their mother/father always voted that way, John Jones' eyes are too close together and I wouldn't trust that shifty-eyed so-and-so as far as I could kick him so I'll vote for someone else. Anyone else. I am back in England, by the way: American politics  are more of a mystery to me than, well, anything really. The ideal way to vote is for the man or woman who you feel will best represent YOU in both local and national issues. That's fine. Except that that person will belong to a party and that party has particular policies and your representative is told by the party what they will support - or not if they happen to be a member of the opposition. It can't work - not for you, my ordinary friend on the Clapham Omnibus. so: it doesn't matter who you vote for, they will do things you agree with and they will do things you don't agree with. You have to live with it, for the same is true if you didn't vote for the party that eventually holds power. I have a dream (I know,its been said before) that there will be a General Election and nobody, but nobody, goes to the polling stations! I am told that the turnout is irrelevant: so long as one person votes whoever he votes for will be in power. But surely it would make them (politicians) sit up and say: Hold on, what's going on here? what are we doing wrong? Then again, probably not.

They whole system needs an overhaul. Trouble is, I have absolutely no idea what the alternative might be.....

Bedroom Tax
For those who don't know, Council or Social Landlord Tenants have been ordered (ie by law) either to 'downsize' or pay an extra premium if they have a 'spare' bedroom. Actually, its quite a good idea when you think about it.
But......
............But it doesn't seem to have been thought through very well, does it? No thought to the emotional strains of moving house whether you wanted to or not. No thought of 'younger' grandparents (people/couples over 60 are exempt) wanting their grandchild(ren) to stay. No monetary compensation for all the work that has been done improving, redecorating, gardening etc etc by those tenants over the years. No thoughts as to where these people will be able to move to, bearing in mind that single bedroom properties are very few in comparison to the people who will now need to find them.

Offer the choices to those householders by all means. But make it an offer and not compulsory or penalised by imposing extra rent.

Jingoism.
I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony.....no - that was a jingle. Certain 'political' concerns have been issuing figures about how much we, the taxpayers, 'give' in benefits and other things to illegal immigrants. This is passed on by those who simply  read the figures and don't think about what is being said. Illegal immigrants are.....illegal. As such they cannot even make a claim to benefit of any kind because, legally, they don't exist. They are not here. Well, there are some, but nobody knows about them. Anybody who makes a claim to benefit has to have their identity checked and verified and if their passport is stamped 'no recourse to public funds' then they will get nothing. That's it. Full stop.

And finally Esther......
All of the things (and more) above have been eating away at me for some time and the views expressed are entirely my own. Whilst I may not have resorted to facts, I have resisted resorting to 'non-facts' ie made up statistics. I don't expect anyone to agree with me (it would be nice, though!), but don't just slate me off simply because you don't agree - opinions are just that: opinions. Nothing more. I don't have any answers, but that's what we have politicians for. Isn't it? Instead of sounding off on Facebook or Twitter or any other Social Media Site, take it to your MP or wherever/whomever it is most appropriate.

I have, thankfully, now exorcised some demons. We all need to do. Get things off our chests. Whatever and whenever my next blog might be, I promise it to be one about something nice. Or interesting.Perhaps even both. A chance to 'talk flowers'.