Today’s scribes give their opinions on subjects including the ephemeral nature of being a UK ally, the benefits of beavers, proposed changes to our votes, and linking foreign aid to birth control.
Sir, David Cameron tells us Muammar Gaddafi is a bad guy and that is sufficient justification for the UK bombing his buildings, airfields, tanks and towns.
This simplistic rationale might be fair enough if the bad guy is truly that. However, bad guys have made the leap from prison cells to political leadership-Nelson Mandela, Jomo Kenyatta, Martin McGuinness.
And good guys have been downgraded from allies to pariahs Saddam Hussein, Manuel Noriega, Hosni Mubarak.
To make things more confusing, sometimes, as in the case of Gaddafi, bad guys can become good guys, only to become bad guys again.
Perhaps the government should copy the George W. Bush administration and produce playing cards similar to their one that showed Iraq’s most wanted.
Our government could produce a pack showing the most evil leaders, which could be revised monthly as good guys become bad, or bad guys become good.
That way we would know where we stand and sleep sound in bed at night comforted by the fact that bloodshed from missiles slamming into north Africa is in a good cause.
Tom Minogue.94 Victoria Terrace,Dunfermline.Beavers can enhance floraSir, The anonymous concerned fishermen (April 6) who complained about beavers cutting willow trees on the riverbank may have forgotten than willows are a species that coppice copiously when cut down.
In fact, they benefit from the process. Beavers and willow have a symbiotic relationship and willow flourishes even better in the presence of beaver than not.
If he were to go back and look at the stumps in a couple of months time, as we will, he will find that numerous tall shoots have grown from them.
What beavers do to willow is very much the equivalent of what gardeners are doing when they prune their roses.
The beavers in Tayside are of the native species, Castor fiber. Gillies often cut willows to make things easier for fishermen.
If the fishermen has any further concerns about beavers, experts from the Scottish Wild Beaver Group will be delighted to discuss them with him.
Louise Ramsay.Bamff,Alyth.Promises we cannot affordSir, Much as I abhor doubting the words of the Scottish Government, I feel obliged to ask this question.
Are we not in a recession with the rest of the country?
It would appear that with promises of freezing council tax, no student fees, no prescription charges and no mandatory redundancies, all is well.
This is surprising in view of the huge proportion of public-sector employment in Scotland, the current proposals for economic cuts throughout the UK and the experience of other European countries.
The one piece of information missing is, of course, the financial plan to pay for these proposals.
I do not believe we can afford such promises without enormous sacrifices by the private sector.
Alan Bell.Roods,Kirriemuir.Time for vote on EuropeSir, I have just received a glossy, 16-page, illustrated booklet on the Scottish Parliamentary election and on the referendum concerning the voting system for the UK Parliament.
What a waste of money. All such extras should be put on hold until the country’s finances have recovered.
The booklet tells me nothing I did not know before and merely confirms what a wasteful procedure the alternative voting system is costly ballot after costly ballot instead of just one.
The first-past-the-post system has the great merit of being economical. It could be modified to allow for an additional number of MPs based on the percentage of the vote gained by each party but even that proposal should be put on hold until the crisis is over.
The first-past-the-post system has been in existence for centuries. Why the sudden rush to change it at a time when we can least afford the expense?
A referendum on whether we should stay in the EU or not? Now, that’s a referendum worth having.
George K. McMillan.5 Mount Tabor Avenue,Perth.Cut birth rate to save planetSir, A census shows that India now has 1.21 billion people 17% of the world’s population.
India will overtake China as the world’s most populated nation by 2030. The world population is 6.913 billion and growing at 200,000 a day.
If the population grows, then CO2 emissions grow, so why do the green zealots never mention this when they demand that we reduce our CO2 levels?
The UK has only 2%, and Scotland 0.2%, of global emissions, and these percentages are falling as other nations ignore theirs while growing their economies and emissions.
Foreign aid must be linked to a birth-control programme. The UK should restrict all child benefit and child allowances to a maximum of two children and those with numerous children must not be allowed to jump to the top of the housing list and into larger accommodation.
I would like the green zealots to support this and to be honest and state that the way to save the planet is to stop producing so many children. A pious hope I suggest.
Clark Cross.138 Springfield Road,Linlithgow.
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