Our letters week ends with correspondents discussing assisted suicide, accountability, the Perth bridge project, the campaign to dual the A9, and the future of RAF Leuchars.
Life too precious for assisted suicide
Sir,-I recently expressed my opinion in this column that the majority of people treat opinion polls with a pinch of salt, especially when the results favour the sponsor.
The latest one to legalise assisted suicide by MSP Margo Macdonald I find demeaning to human life, insulting, with a hint of desperation.
I recently lost my wife of 56 years after a long and happy life together and while the final years were difficult for both of us, we enjoyed them as best we could.
And Margo, while I am still very raw, I pray that Holyrood will have the good sense to vote your Bill out as life is precious with all its problems and frailties and not a day passes that I don’t wish I could turn the clock back and again push her wheelchair with us both enjoying the world about us.
R. H. L. Mulheron.28 Cowgate,Tayport.
Accountability for officialdom
Sir,-Criminality exists in all walks of life.
Cases that come to my mind are the Scottish lawyer jailed for embezzling from a 100-year-old lady, the Dumfries policeman who terrorised women, the numerous cases of people in positions of trust such as priests and teachers who abuse those in their care and, of course, the politicians who have committed crimes.
These cases make the point, if it were needed, that we are all human.
We must never accept that anyone is above the law and must challenge the establishment because there is a danger that if any group is left unchallenged to regulate its own affairs without independent scrutiny, it will lead to arrogance and invite malpractice.
Now we hear that our referees who are policemen, lawyers, ministers and so on until they don their black shirts want assurances from all football clubs that their integrity is beyond question.
“Trust me, I’m a doctor” has never had the same meaning since Harold Shipman abused that trust. “Trust me, I’m a referee” is likely to end up having the same hollow ring if the recent admission of lying by one referee is anything to go by.
Football is now big business. It will be affected by the pressures that affect other big businesses, including nepotism bias and corruption. We should not be obsessed with this fact but we should be aware of it.
Openness and accountability is required in all walks of life, including sport.
Likewise, questioning the propriety of all members of society is healthy and should be welcomed not attacked.
Tom Minogue.94 Victoria Terrace,Dunfermline.
Bridge project a Perth humiliation
Sir,-Further to comments by Councillor John Kellas that the proposed pedestrian/cycle bridge in Perth would open up a direct route from Scone to Perth and ease congestion at Bridgend, I was unaware of any congestion caused by pedestrians at Bridgend.
Are pedestrians walking in the road, thereby causing congestion?
If he believes that people are now going to walk to their work from Scone to Perth then he is on another planet.
Councillor Kellas claims that Perth and Kinross Council has worked hard to support “the public’s stated desire to see the project become a reality”. Where are these people who want a bridge, apart from a few councillors?
This is yet another embarrassing project by the council and on the back end of the incinerator and city hall farces, it is yet another humiliation.
Ian McPherson.Glasgow Road,Perth.
Parties sent A9 cash to capital
Sir,-Murdo Fraser MSP has been getting himself in the press quite a bit lately with his efforts to dual the A9 an entirely worthy aim and one long overdue, having been ignored by Conservative and Labour governments equally.
Readers may recall that a Liberal-Labour-Tory coalition at Holyrood outvoted the SNP minority administration to transfer £500 million earmarked for A9 improvements to fund the Edinburgh tram scheme and we know what a success that has been.
Did Mr Fraser have the courage of his convictions and vote against his party on that occasion?
David Morrison.57 Station Road,Invergowrie.
Post RAF hope for Fife?
Sir,-If Scotland is to lose an airbase, Fife is better placed to cope with the aftermath than the Moray area.
With three first-class universities in the area, the buildings at RAF Leuchars could be used for start-up enterprises.
The facilities could also be easily converted into a tax-free zone as well as attracting charter flights.
Alan T. Law.1 Grey Street,Tayport.
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.