Up for discussion today: Britain’s debt, the Perth footbridge project, climate change, and the future of Dundee FC.
Resolve to free Britain from shackles of debt
Sir,-Any government has three irrevocable priorities educate the next generation, defend the country, secure energy supplies.
The last government failed on all of these. Indications are that the new one is not doing much better.
Lack of money is one excuse. So what could cure that problem?
Well, cancellation of aid to Africa and India would help. Africa simply increases its population in response to aid and India is planning to send a man to the moon while much of its population lives in poverty, so all they have to do is cancel their space programme and let us off the hook of financing it.
We could also end a pointless war in Afghanistan.
At home, we could stop the banking system from creating our money supply as debt and from charging us interest of £1 billion a week for the privilege, and instead, have our money supply issued debt free by the state.
And yet these obvious steps elude those we elect. The time has come to find people smarter than politicians to run the country.
That is a new year resolution worth making.
Malcolm Parkin.15 Gamekeepers Road,Kinnesswood,Kinross.
Publish any bridge survey
Sir,-I have followed the proposal about Perth’s Connect2 bridge with interest. I have to assume that some market research or a survey was done to estimate how many cyclists and pedestrians would use the bridge each year, so allowing council-tax payers to know how much each crossing would cost, both in capital and maintenance costs.
Perth and Kinross Council should publish the figures.
Garry Barnett.The Garden House,Campsie Hill,Guildtown.
Poverty risk of green agenda
Sir,-Your correspondent James Christie rejects criticism of the man-made global warming lobby and declares that “optimism is no substitute for science”.
Greens smugly accuse man-made global-warming sceptics of being unscientific in their approach.
I am not a scientist but I, together with my fellow sceptics, am perfectly capable of logical thinking.
We see the evidence presented by the scientists on both sides of the argument and draw our own conclusions.
As far as I can see, powerful politicians and leaders of industry and business throughout the West have decided for us that only one scientific faction is right about climate change and have embarked on a multi-billion-pound programme of carbon capture and wind, wave and renewables power which is going to cripple the economies of nations.
Meanwhile, others such as China continue on their merry way building coal-fired power stations as if there were no tomorrow.
Of course, we should be aiming to produce as much of our power as possible from renewables, but, until we are sure that renewables can meet our needs without terminally damaging our economy, we should keep our coal, oil, gas and nuclear power stations and replace them in good time to ensure our industrial, business and domestic needs are met in the most economical way possible.
One argument by the climate-change lobby is that we are harming the Third World by using fossil fuels. I submit that the billions spent on anti-climate-change measures would be better spent on direct food, water and medical help for these countries.
The green policies of Western democracies will make it impossible for them to help poverty-stricken countries because they too will be impoverished and that day is not far distant.
The present episode of climate change is merely another phase in the world’s cooling and warming cycle which has been going on for millions of years.
George K. McMillan.5 Mount Tabor Avenue,Perth.
DFC must keep current players
Sir,-With the preposterous 25-point deduction standing, Dundee Football Club will be hard pushed to survive but survive we will, with the help of fans and local businesses and the continuing gritty performances of a depleted squad.
The vultures are beginning to circle Dens Park, waiting for the January sales to begin. Clubs are looking to boost their sides by plundering the heart of our team, a squad that is fighting or its survival, not just in Division One but for the future of the very club itself.
I would liken the present squad to the team of 1963, the first Scottish team to succeed to the final stages of the then European Cup.
That side included players such as Alan Gilzean and Alan Cousin (the goal scorers in both legs of the semi).
As well as playing for their team, they had to work to make ends meet. If my memory serves me well, Cousin was a school teacher and Gilzean a painter and decorator.
If only the current players would commit to the team and the fans who have supported them over the past eight months, for one more season, then who knows where we will be in season 2012/13. This season, however, we may well go on to win the league but could finish second bottom.
I know the club would be hard pushed to resist any substantial offer made for playmakers the likes of Griffiths, and Harkins but I cannot help recalling the pittance Dundee received for Khizanishvili and Novo from Rangers.
That cash boost did not prevent the team from ending up in administration again seven years later. Had we held on to some of the top players from that era, would we still be in Division One now?
Dundee should attempt to build on the obvious team spirit within the club, spirit which has won us nine games in a row.
Why not make the current team an offer to stay and bring the club back from the brink of closure to become a force in the future of Scottish football, like the team of 1963?
Douglas McKelvie.24 Hunter Place,Stonehaven.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL.