…or for those practising endogamists, someone whose genetic make up isn’t too dissimilar to your own. Think deepest, darkest Louisiana, remote islands in the Pacific Ocean and Aberbargoed. Ok, ok, before disgruntled from Cwmtillery writes in (using the eight fingers on his one hand), endogamy does not mean that you have to marry your sister. It just means-as all sociologists will tell you-the practice of marrying within a specific ethnic group, class, or social group, rejecting others on such a basis as being unsuitable for marriage or for other close personal relationships; as exemplified by the British (German/Austrian/Greek) Royal Family. This sudden interest in social demographics was sparked this week as I listened to Vanessa Feltz on Radio 2 who was discussing both endogamy and exdogamy (think the headstrong Grantham offspring in Downton Abbey who took off with the Republican supporting Irish chauffeur). The subject of blackbirds flying with blackbirds or estate agents using the same pub on a Friday night to discuss business/wave their genitalia about is particularly apposite as May 7 looms into view and the representatives of the various political parties put on their cabaret act that invariably runs true to their political colour. In a week of sound bites and utterances that left nobody overly surprised; please do not tell me that it never crossed your mind that Barry Manilow might possible be more Liberace than Tom Jones?, the one big reveal that did have me spitting nails was Nick-my-wife-has-me-by-the-castanets-Clegg. Should they be given the opportunity to redecorate No 10, Clegg & Co will lend up to £2000 to anyone wanting to rent a house if they do not have the money for the initial deposit and the first month’s rent. A poor man’s version of Help to Buy? No, because with the Help to Buy scheme, the buyer has to contribute themselves and a charge is taken over the property. In true hand-wringing, corduroy and socks with sandals-wearing fashion, the Lib Dems are proposing to ‘help’ society. Help which part exactly? The part that can’t/won’t get off their backsides to help themselves whilst those who do drag themselves in to the coalface pay for the privilege? Having screamed at the radio and then forced myself to take several deep breaths, I then asked what I would do if someone came into the office looking to rent a property and had the deposit in their hand. Would I-or any agent-query where the money came from and on a political principle-not take their application fee? Of course I wouldn’t. Perhaps the Liberal Democrats-when not hugging trees, mothers who breast feed in public and campaigning for a utopian world could launch a new campaign slogan; “Nick Clegg, the estate agents’ friend”. Fear not, the men in white coats are just arriving…
