Sir, – I was bitterly disappointed by the announcement that the BBC are going to proceed with their plans to take away free TV licences from most people over the age of 75.
This is a kick in the teeth for older people during a terrible year.
Last year I, alongside 634,333 other Age UK supporters, signed a petition to keep TV free for all over 75s.
I never received a reply from government.
I cannot believe that we are still being threatened with this possibility.
Shame on you, BBC, and the present government.
Don’t you realise the impact this will have on so many seniors’ lives.
Lockdown was hard and without a TV a lot of us would have found it difficult to cope.
And now winter is fast approaching you are threatening us again.
I appeal to you on behalf of so many of my friends who do not use the internet to think again.
I have never before been given a freebie for it to be demanded back.
It is not the British way.
I am really worried about older people on low incomes who will find it hard to find £150 plus a year to pay for a licence.
They will have to give up some other essentials, or try to survive without TV at all.
I am particularly concerned about older people battling loneliness and isolation, people who aren’t online and for whom the television provides a lifeline to the outside world, information, entertainment and companionship.
I implore you to work together and find a solution to save millions of older people from this decision which will cause enormous anxiety, distress and real hardship.
Jessie Denst.
Riverside Park,
Blairgowrie.
Science will see us through virus
Sir, – Renegade scientists? What renegade scientists?
SAGE has a wide range of advisers with diverse opinions, policy is down to government. Scientists have no desire to claim any religious status and there is no doubt in my mind that scientists have already made this clear to this disastrous Tory government.
What you see is Tory spin and blame and media spin and blame.
Computer models can be brilliant and pretty accurate when the correct parameters are included and validated in various environments.
This is hard to achieve with this new virus.
So, yes, Covid models are best estimates but difficult to evaluate.
Let us not conflate science and religion as both are open to misinterpretation and abuse. Meanwhile let’s celebrate the fact that at last proper investment in science has offered us hope in terms of a vaccine from the Oxford group.
Politics won’t get us out of this, science will whether you are a “believer” or not.
Prof Howard Davies.
Station Road,
Invergowrie.
Avoiding the private banks
Sir, – The cost of Covid will be considerable and already there is talk of higher taxation to pay for it.
This payment is owed to the private banking system that has – as always – been creating money from thin air to lend to the government at interest.
Further money will also have to be borrowed during the economic and social recovery following Covid, and that will also come from private banks.
It is this ludicrous situation, where private banks create the public money supply as interest-bearing debt, that cripples us with interest charges on their magic money that never existed.
We pay a billion pounds a week to the banks for interest on the national debt for example.
But if government itself issued its own money, to finance the assets of capital and social projects, including the NHS of course, all for the benefit of the nation, it could do so indefinitely, interest free, and in any quantity needed, merely by computer keystroke. This money would not go into circulation, so would not cause inflation.
So any nation with its own currency could therefore avoid the private banks, and directly finance what it wanted interest free, and everything needed could be afforded.
Malcolm Parkin.
Gamekeepers Road,
Kinnesswood.
Gorgeous Gallowigus
Sir, – I agree with Kenneth Miln (New fish to bolster angling, Courier, July 17).
With declining stocks of good quality opposition fish in Scotland, voters should look into one of our native species that is making a comeback here, the Gorgeous Gallowigus.
Originally fae Dundee, it has made big splashes in Westminster, Washington and Middle Eastern waters.
While it provides tremendous sport, there will be replies stating the introduction of such a big fish in our small pond could mean the demise of Salmond and Sturgeon. But having voted in Scottish political waters for many years I’ve rarely heard of our opposition minnows knocking them off their perch.
We should at least mullet over.
The UK bream shall never die.
Allan Sutherland.
1 Willow Row,
Stonehaven.
Counting our many blessings
Sir, – I would like to take this opportunity to thank local shops, businesses, stores and staff for their ongoing dedication and support throughout this trying and testing time. To me, it has highlighted the collaboration, innovation, compassion and care our community shows for each other.
I would also like to thank all key workers (which to me, is everyone) and volunteers who have supported the more vulnerable in our community.
I hope we continue to work together for the benefit of us all in the times ahead.
Thank you.
Elizabeth Baillie.
Panmure Street,
Brechin.
Registering our appreciation
Sir, – I would like to bring attention to the hard work of all the staff at Dundee Registrar’s Office.
Their quiet work throughout these challenging times streamlined the registration process to total efficiency.
So can I take this opportunity to let the staff know they have been very much appreciated by both the families and funeral directors involved.
Kay McFadyen.
Sturrock, Comb & Davidson,
Family Funeral Directors.
