I wait with breathless anticipation for details of the "brief" to be followed by the introduction of a 

Minister for the Lonely.  Happily living alone, content in my own company, but ready to chat to all

so inclined to enjoy what was called "shooting the breeze", I'm not convinced that this new

post is either practical or desirable.  Our human condition is affected by numerous and various

influences and most of these have been around for as as long as humanity itself.  The old adage

"God helps those who help themselves" was not aimed at shoplifters but folk who adopt and practice

a regimen of self-help and discipline, both of which seem to have fallen into unfortunater decline in

my lifetime.  Those songwriters of yesteryear got it right:  Johnny Mercer wrote famously that we

should "Accentuate the positive" and "eliminate the negative" - not a bad rule for life with all its ups

and downs.  Or you were directed to "The Sunny Side of the Street" etc. etc.  Upbeat - not down! 

We are seeing personal grief and tragedy made into 24 hour public spectatcles to be shared with

every Tom, Dick and Harriet, and I wonder if this is contributing to this sort of "aren't we caring" 

political populism (another "ism").  The late great American singer/songwriter Roy Orbison had a

a huge hit years ago with "Only the Lonely" and I feel inclined to borrow from some of his wordless 

lines that so tunefully come to the welcoming mind.  All together now....

"Dumb - dumb - dumb - dumber...we are!!"

Minister for the Lonely?  What next? A Minister for the Miserable?  I could go on....

.....................................................................................................................................................