Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – Isn’t it about time even the most mild-mannered amongst us rose up in anger over a week where the weather was a huge plus but the cost of living and a strike threat did its best to ruin the enjoyment?
Petrol and diesel took a steady rise in price for no apparent reason other than greed; tanker drivers just happened to threaten supplies of both to families as the Easter holidays approach (although it appears not enough of them actually voted to strike if you apply simple mathematics).
Then, to twist the knife financially, came the news that the prices of postage stamps are going to go through the roof.
Everyone involved is, of course, of the ”it wisnae me” persuasion in that they ”are forced into increases” because of economic necessity and all that bilge. It never seems to occur to them, or, rather, they turn a blind eye to the fact, that for the individual, hard-pressed in every direction financially, multiple increases become one huge additional hole in wages, pensions or whatever.
We seem to have alleged governing bodies in London and Edinburgh who raise their hands in horror at price increases then seem totally powerless to do anything about them.
So, on behalf of a lot of people, they are hereby warned that it won’t take much more to spark genuine unrest, a ”summer of total discontent” if you like, by formerly reasonable people unless action is taken to reduce individual financial pressure now.
Ian Wheeler.Springfield, Fife.
Posturing rather than actually opposing
Sir, – In the recent budget the Con-Dem alliance cut the top rate of tax for the highest earners. The Labour Party’s Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls boldly stated: ”…we will vote against the 50p. It’s the wrong tax cut at the wrong time.”
Yet, when the SNP and Plaid Cymru introduced an amendment to parliament opposing Tory plans to cut the top rate of tax for the highest earners, the entire contingent of Scottish Labour MPs abstained.
It appears that posturing against the SNP is more important than opposing a Tory-Liberal Budget which punishes pensioners and public sector workers and does nothing to stimulate the economy.
Kevin Cordell.2 Nevis Place,Broughty Ferry.
Decent, honest folk still around
Sir, – I’d like to thank the public-spirited person who found my wallet, which I left on a bus the other day, and dropped it into the Broughty Ferry police station without leaving a name.
There was quite a lot of cash in it as well as credit cards, and I am grateful for their honesty. Thank you, too, to the police, and to the young woman at the lost and found office in Bell Street, who dealt with things efficiently and empathetically.
I have made a contribution to the Police Benevolent Fund in lieu of a reward.
It’s good to know there are still honest, decent folk here in our city.
Colin Hall.42 Torridon Road,Broughty Ferry.
We need to try different tack
Sir, – Seventeen drugs-related deaths in Tayside in three months? These are the horrific figures quoted in the report of the latest drugs-related death in Perth (Courier, March 27).
Is it not time the relevant authorities realised that the softly-softly approach to drug-taking is not working?
The drug habit is spreading rapidly, especially among the young, and there is no sign of its being brought under control. Present methods to control drug-taking are patently not working.
Perhaps we should try another tack, including heavier penalties for drug dealers and consigning to drying-out units drug addicts who appear again and again before our courts for drug-related offences?
Stricter control of any pubs and clubs where drugs are taken would also help. The fewer opportunities there are for drug-dealing and drug-taking the better.
We must try something else, unless we want to see more and more of our young people ending up like the latest victim in Perth.
George K McMillan.5 Mount Tabor Avenue,Perth.
Room to make some savings?
Sir – Reference the report about some of the executives at Adam Smith College (March 27), it seems to me that, irrespective of the rights and wrongs of the sad affair, the college seems to be functioning perfectly well without four top-level managers.
Could there be room for savings there? I wonder.
A T Geddie.68 Carleton Avenue,Glenrothes.
Butcher or surgeon?
Sir, – The correspondence regarding prayer started off by John Millar’s truly unbelievable article on March 23 reminded me of the old adage about whom one would rather choose to perform open heart surgery on one’s nearest and dearest the local butcher who is also an evangelical lay preacher, or the medically qualified hospital surgeon who is also an atheist?
Alistair McBay.National Secular Society,5 Atholl Crescent,Edinburgh.
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. Letters should be accompanied by an address and a daytime telephone number.