Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, The new defence secretary reaffirms that the coalition intends to spend £25 billion on the new generation Trident (October 22). This confirms David Cameron’s emphatic outburst when he spoke in Arbroath some time ago. Whilst threshing his open palm with a clenched fist for emphasis he said: ”If I become PM I will see to it that we spend money on Trident.”
The Labour Party made the new generation Trident plans in the last parliament, the Tory Party supported them, and I suppose that the Liberal Democrats are for Trident too now they are in the coalition. They all support Trident despite the fact that we are in the midst of a serious recession.
Where is the money to come from? Fifteen billion is to be saved from pensions. Many billions of pounds of other savings are now in place, and we are all suffering from having less money. But the money for the new generation Trident will come from our already impoverished pockets.
The expenditure of our money on Trident is a gross mismanagement of our taxes. Each submarine has in its belly the potential to kill many millions of ordinary folk. The concept of mass killing like this is surely anti-Christian.
Out of the 27 nations in the EU only two have nuclear bombs. Scotland is one of the two nations. At the behest of Westminster this horror is parked in Scotland, at Faslane.
Jim McGugan.7 The Square,Letham, Angus.
Sharia law is not liberation
Sir, The new leader of Libya, Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, has declared liberation. He told thousands of supporters that Islamic Sharia law would be the ”basic source of legislation” in the country and that existing laws that contradict the teachings of Islam would be nullified.
How can anyone square Islamic Sharia law with liberation? It is structurally archaic, contradicting point by point the principles of democracy; therefore, there can be no liberation for Libyans under it.
To declare liberation for Libyans while at the same time establishing Islamic Sharia law is completely absurd. There can be no liberation in an Islamic state unless, of course, you are prepared to equate Islamic Sharia law with the US Statue of Liberty!
Ron Smith.14 Reid Street,Dundee.
Shouldn’t be penalised twice
Sir, A report from the Intergenerational Foundation talks about older people ‘bed blocking’ the housing supply for younger people. This level of social engineering is not, in my opinion, the way to ensure people are living happy, comfortable lives. A home is about far more than bricks and mortar and no-one should be made to feel they have a sell-by date.
We must remember that most elderly people will have worked hard to buy their home and may have been settled for a number of years. When you consider people with dementia, often familiar faces and places can make a real difference. Forcing people to move could have a very detrimental effect on their quality of life.
The recession had an undoubted effect on the young generation in terms of home ownership. However, older people have lived through similar downturns and it would be unfair to penalise them again. Although the building sector was hit, there are hundreds of new-build developments with vacant properties and half-built developments. It is difficult for first-time buyers to get on the ladder due to mortgage availability. There is potentially a plentiful supply of housing without making older people feel like they need to give up their homes.
Older people already face factors which may make them decide to downsize, whether that be the costs of running the home, care options or council tax. To add to that does not seem fair.
Society has changed and will continue to change and we need to be innovative. However, we need to ensure these innovative solutions are fair for all.
If we want fairness for all generations, then penalising one to help the other surely isn’t the way to do it.
Lianne Lodge.Associate, Pagan Osborne.Member of Solicitors for the Elderly.
Danger of a smaller plan
Sir, Reference the letter from Neil McKinnon (October 22), I think if permission is granted for a smaller windfarm at Abercairney estates they would then be able to apply at a later date for more turbines to be erected.
Our present SNP administration is hell-bent on covering every hill in the country with windfarms so it is no surprise Roseanna Cunningham is saying nothing.
Tom Fisken.18 Wilson Street,Perth.
Proud of Dundee CAB
Sir, I feel very proud of Dundee CAB who stood up to Gordon Wilson’s homophobic remarks.
As an SNP supporter I was dismayed by his outburst.
I remember how as a wee laddie living in the Ardler multis I was proud to see my SNP poster, supporting Gordon Wilson, amongst a sea of Labour posters.
If only I knew then what I know now, the poster would never have gone up.
Jeff Duncan.PO Box 10083,Dundee.
Freedom, tolerance?
Sir, Regarding the action of Dundee Citizens Advice Bureau in ‘sacking’ Gordon Wilson: what an interesting illustration of today’s brave new world of freedom and tolerance!
Apparently we must all kowtow to the political correctness of the time or we will be outlawed. To adapt an old poem, freedom used to be a noble thing.
David J Randall.5 Applehill Gardens,Wellbank.
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.