This morning our correspondents discuss problem drinkers, football in the past, Donald Trump’s honorary degree, the Labour leadership and energy security.
Public already punished for problem drinkers Sir, Some will say minimum alcohol pricing, as proposed by the Scottish Government, punishes the responsible drinker.
Responsible drinkers will not consume copious amounts, so where is their punishment?
Also, we are all being punished anyway. Who pays for the extra National Health Service and policing costs associated with excessive drinking?
Now the opposition parties at Holyrood are set to block the minimum age of 21. They say this is because it discriminates against young people.
Well, if that is the case, then most major retailers are already doing so.
One last thing. Smokers were against the smoke ban when it was introduced a few years back. They said it would shut pubs. The pub trade body supports minimum pricing because cheap shop booze is killing their trade.
Consequently, smokers should be rallying around the pubs in this case. Or was their opposition to the ban simply one of wanting to keep getting smoke up others’ noses?
John Montgomery.24 March Crescent,Cellardyke.
Fading memories of Dundee glory
Sir, As a long-retired football writer with no allegiance to any one major club, I had the privilege of seeing many great teams and many great players.
And right up there with the best at club level were the George Anderson and Billy Steel inspired Dundee and the Bob Shankly created team of Liney, Hamilton, Cox, Seith, Ure, Wishart, Smith, Penman, Gilzean, Cousin and Robertson.
But these are only in the memory bank of people my age. Through later years, there was a good team or two, an outstanding individual here and there but the general situation for Dundee was a downward spiral, a loss of prestige as standard bearers for the city as Dundee United overtook and surpassed them.
Now, an even more depressing scenario could await.
I appreciate that without the backing of a billionaire or two, keeping a football club going is an awesome task, but surely there is salvation somewhere for Dundee? If not, only memories will remain, then, as those who actually did see the great teams play “move on” it will merely be grainy pictures, historic newspaper reports and handed-down tales of the good old days.
As “memory bearer” I truly hope this will not be the case.
Ian Wheeler.Springfield,Cupar.
A churlish reaction
Sir, Why do universities award honorary degrees? Surely the main purpose must be to reflect the broad scope of the institution’s work as well recognise the contribution made by individuals to the community and economy.
That’s why I find Dr David Kennedy’s approach to Robert Gordon’s University and Donald Trump both puzzling and narrow minded (September 28). As a former principal he really ought to have known better. Dr Kennedy may have a number of reasons for opposing the Trump development on Menie Estate.
Everyone knows it has been controversial, with strongly held and sincere beliefs on both sides. But that does not mean he should make bad-mannered gestures like handing back his own well-earned degree.
He may not like some of Donald Trump’s business methods, but is there any evidence that the American tycoon has ever acted outwith the law? The Trump development will bring enormous economic benefits to the north-east of Scotland.
Bob Taylor.24 Shiel Court,Glenrothes.
Back to Labour bad old days
Sir, I suspect David Cameron won the next General Election on Saturday as the Labour Party allowed its union bagmen to anoint Red Ed Miliband.
The last time Labour held an internal election of such consequence, it opted for the sanity of Denis Healey (for deputy leader) and rejected the lunacy of Tony Benn. That contest marked the start of the fightback against the nihilism of the Left that led to Kinnock’s reforms, Blair’s modernisation and a return to power.
This was the exact converse as Ed Miliband tried to make retro seem new, to make tribal introspection seem bold and to blame election defeat on not being left enough.
But as a key Brown adviser in the last days in the Downing Street bunker, he wrote the fatal manifesto for that election and will struggle to produce new ideas.
(Dr) John Cameron.10 Howard Place,St Andrews.
Get to grips with power crisis
Sir, UK Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne pulled out all the stops to plug wind power when opening “the world’s largest wind farm” off Kent.
Why are we pussy-footing around with with wind farms? Mr Huhne made exaggerated claims but massive back-up will be required to ensure constant electricity supplies.
The only viable and politically acceptable back-up is apparently natural gas and our supplies are now increasingly dependent on Russia.
Even if the supplier is dependable, the UK is at the end of thousands of miles of pipeline, which is wide open to disruption.
Since our electricity supply has been subject to market forces and not government controlled since the 1990s, it has become more unreliable. A previous safety margin of 30% capacity over the normal demand has now been reduced to about 16%, below the danger level of 20%.
A severe winter could bring widespread power cuts. If our politicians think building nuclear power stations is political dynamite, then the public reaction would be nothing compared with the explosion of public anger which would follow a series of mid-winter power cuts.
George K. McMillan.5 Mount Tabor Avenue,Perth.
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