Sir, Andrew Dundas in his riposte to David Fenwick (letters, January 9) is highly selective when choosing figures to support his argument concerning Denmark’s standard of living. To focus solely on income tax is at best disingenuous, at worst dishonest.
Danes do indeed pay higher rates of tax, but Mr Dundas fails to mention that the average Dane has a disposable income, after deductions, which exceeds that of the average Scottish worker.
To use a well-worn expression, they have the best of both worlds. A well-funded welfare system and money in their pockets to live lives at levels which register highly in standard of living indexes.
Not just Danes, but all our Northern European cousins enjoy a quality of life above that of the average Scot although, with the growing disparity between rich and poor here, any “average” figure should be approached with caution.
At the top of that scale is Norway, a country which relies more on its North Sea revenues than an independent Scotland would. There is, however, one thing these countries have in common, which sets them apart from Scotland. They have governments whose sole concern is, and has been, the improvement of their citizens’ lives.
Norway is a prime example. A country whose leaders had the foresight, ambition and confidence to set up an oil fund. A fund which is steering them through these rather turbulent times far better than the “broad shouldered” UK.
We are told constantly by unionist politicians that we are “better together”. Better than who? Better than what? Certainly not better than comparable countries across the North Sea.
It has also been stated that the union is a successful one. If Scotland’s past, present and probably future experience of the union is deemed to be a success, I dread to think what would represent failure to supporters of this dysfunctional partnership.
Ken Clark. 335 King Street, Dundee.
Not telling the whole story
Sir, with reference to Andrew Dundas’s letter inFriday’s Courier, it is clear to me that Mr Dundas has researched his “answer” quite thoroughly, however, this only goes to prove that he is adopting the typical unionist ploy of only telling a half-truth.
As I am sure Mr Dundas knows, Danish incomes are roughly twice those in the UK so that, even after paying the higher taxes, the Danes have considerably more “spending” money in their pockets than us. Further, due to their higher taxes and because the Danes do not squander their taxes on nuclear weapons and illegal wars as Mr Dundas concedes they can afford to make generous welfare payments, retirement pensions being twice those in this country.
As to Mr Dundas’s assertion that the rate of economic growth in the UK is greater than that in Denmark, this is because we have so much further to go than the Danes.
I am sure that, being a meticulous researcher, he will have checked the many international surveys on “Quality of Life,” and will therefore be aware that Denmark along with the rest of the Northern European countries (those which the unionists consider to be too small to govern themselves) consistently appears in the top of the table.
Alex Rollo. Main Street, Barry.
Hypocrisy from Alex Salmond
Dear Sir, Surely it is the height of hypocrisy for Alex Salmond to stand for a seat at Westminster when his sole raison d’etre is to separate Scotland from the UK? The rancour engendered by many of his supporters pre-referendum gave new meaning to the term “rabble- rousing”.
It was extremely intimidating and made many people feel uneasy in their own land.
This is no way to behave in a civilised society. Are these the fine, upstanding, mature people he wants to run his Scotland? No thanks, Mr Salmond, we don’t need further discontent but stronger unity and people working together for the good of the UK.
Mrs Beth Boylen. 40 Fintry Place, Broughty Ferry, Dundee.
Back to the ’60s with police pilot
Sir, I was pleased to read in the article “Lang Toun to see force patrol pilot” that Police Scotland is to undertake a type of policing to involve them with the community. The police are quoted as saying: “This is the pilot for the rest of Police Scotland. If it is successful, it could be adopted elsewhere.”
I think it will be successful as “unit beat policing” successfully operated in Kirkcaldy in the late 1960s when Kirkcaldy and Dysart were covered by “resident constables” who worked each of their areas like “village beats”. Emergency calls were attended by police driving panda cars.
Ian Thomson. Moor Road, Ceres.
Need to present a good image
Sir, Who is advising Nicola Sturgeon?
Having watched the media recordings of her teetering about in very high heels I have to say it is not a very good image of a First Minister. Regretfully, she appears more like a “wannabe celeb”.
Please let us have a presentable image of the First Minister of Scotland, as an elegantly presented person of whom we can be proud regardless of politics.
The image of her wobbling about on high heels is not acceptable.
Roy Moffat. Gilmerton, Crieff.