Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, The leaked proposals by the Tories to make it easier to sack under-performing employees show yet again the Tories’ obsession with bringing back Victorian working practices.
The Tories have a dream of turning the UK into a large non-unionised third world sweat shop. They want there to be no pensions, no sick pay, no holidays and no job security. They want all employees to be perpetually fearful of losing their job.
In the Tory utopia there would be no benefits and debtors prisons would be reintroduced.
The Tories have come to a consensus that the biggest obstacle to economic growth is feckless, lazy workers who can too easily sue an employer for wrongful dismissal.
The real reason there is high unemployment is because the perfidy of the bankers and financial speculators has in turn led to reckless ideological cuts by the Tories which have stifled demand for labour.
Alan Hinnrichs.2 Gillespie Terrace,Dundee.
It’s all thanks to Labour Party
Sir, In the interests of clarity and fairness, which I am sure your correspondent Bob Duncan will appreciate (October 28), the reason he is paying for parking at Ninewells Hospital is because the Labour Party in Scotland was in thrall to PFI.
The SNP scrapped car parking charges at NHS hospitals on their election in 2007, however they remain at Ninewells thanks to a lock-tight, seemingly eternal, contract with a private company. Thank you Jack McConnell.
Malcolm Cordell.35 Fort Street,Broughty Ferry,Dundee.
CAB being judgmental
Sir, It is a tragedy for local democracy that neo-Marxist political correctness has influenced so many members of Dundee’s Citizens Advice Bureau CAB) to be so judgmental about the beliefs of gays and Christians (Courier, October 28).
By definition all beliefs are illogical and that we are all infected to some degree is amply proven by the CAB as it tries to impose one illogical belief upon another.
It is not for the CAB to determine that the gay minority has a right to Christian marriage but for Christians to so determine.
The tragedy is evident in the CAB members’ opposition to Mr Wilson’s freedom to express his Christian beliefs.
Andrew Lawson.9 MacLaren Gardens,Dundee.
Entitled to hold a view
Sir, Shame on ”activists” in Dundee CAB. Gordon Wilson has given sterling service to the community over decades. He has a viewpoint, based on his Christian beliefs, which may be shared by many other Christians but not by everyone.
In a democratic society is he not entitled to hold and express them? Is it being suggested that his beliefs have interfered with the work he has been doing for the CAB?
Or is to be the policy of Dundee CAB to discriminate against members of ALL religious groups because of their beliefs?
David Tennant.4 Cambustay Gardens,Dundee.
Emperor’s New Clothes
Sir, Homophobia is defined as an irrational hatred, disapproval, or fear of homosexuality, gay and lesbian people, or their culture. Today it is branded on anyone who is not in standing ovation mode for all things gay regardless of patent and well-founded concerns.
Politicians are falling over themselves in giving militant homosexual organisations privileged status and huge amounts of taxpayers’ money.
In a recent confidential survey of over 238,000 adults, the Office of National Statistics found that just over 1% are gay. How many of this 1% are demanding marriage?
There is no logic behind the determination of government at Westminster and Holyrood to redefine marriage to appease a tiny minority of a tiny minority, unless they believe that to be labelled homophobic is the ultimate political slur.
It is reminiscent of the story of the Emperor’s New Clothes where people would rather admire non-existent garments than be labelled as stupid.
Gay marriage is just another step for a radical sexual rights lobby who have a very destructive agenda.
If allowed in this country, it will be quickly followed, as has happened in Canada and other countries, by mounting pressure to allow the rights of three or more people of any gender to be recognised legally as a family.
Is this the kind of society we want for future generations?
Sylvia Brown.9 Beech Avenue,Ladybank.
Facts are facts, it is Scotland’s oil
Sir, Your editorial entitled, Exciting Prospect (October 26) ends: ”It may or not be ‘Scotland’s oil’, but it sure is Scotland’s gold”. I’m flabbergasted The Courier even suggests there is any ambiguity at all over this issue. The Loch Lomond National Park is located within Scottish borders and therefore as you rightly say contains ”Scotland’s gold”.
Similarly, North Sea oil is all but exclusively located within Scottish territorial waters and therefore, by exactly the same logic, must surely be ”Scotland’s oil”?
Only the geographically inept or politically obstinate could ever claim otherwise. It is about time the Scottish press dropped their disingenuous, antiquated pretence.
Facts are facts. It’s Scotland’s oil.
David Kelly.Dunblane.
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.