Problem here is entrenched views yet again.

When Steamin' Willie talked about ending a plight, some pillock started making out he was into mass extermination or some other tosh. When Bluesman takes the piss or whatever he is doing, some like to feel outraged.

The simple truth is; people are people and statistically, the collection of people known as travellers, (to my knowledge, little as it is, a collective term for Romanies, Irish Diddycoys, burnt out hippies and those who have found a way to live without paying taxes,) have issues, some brought on by their way of life, some brought on by themselves.

When a local town, through the local paper and petitions complained that the local NHS, which I was involved with, was spending money chasing around the local camp with health visitors, district nurses etc, they spoke of waiting times etc taking second place to looking after scum. They didn't talk of the risk of TB for the local community as it was rampant in this particular camp, and the travellers use local shops, pubs etc.

I mentioned this when questioned by the local newspaper. They led with "Local NHS chief calls travellers vermin."

Sometimes, it is best to just go to the pub, have a laugh with your mates about football and religion, come home, make sure the alarm is set and the dog alert, and try to see the good in people like Jim Carroll, who defends travellers and their take take take attitude to society, whilst occasionally saying bankers and businessmen with similar attitudes are to be frowned upon.

The difference is Jim, one pays for the shit of the other to be cleared up. Other than that, both sections of the population are having a laugh. (At the expense of most people on this thread by the way.)