The Courier’s week begins with mention of raising taxes, the fate of Dundee FC, the threat of a double-dip recession and the enduring power or otherwise of Dundee’s V&A building.
Raise income tax to preserve human dignity Sir,-The economy exists, in Christian terms, primarily to ensure that the intermingling of human labour and the created order produces goods and services that enable human flourishing.
These needs are met by community effort.
Society as a whole, acting through the appropriate institutions, has a moral responsibility to enhance human dignity and protect human rights.
In our own society, many of the essential goods and services people need are provided through public services.
Yet with the cuts proposed by the Westminster Government, these services are to be curtailed and many public servants are threatened with unemployment.
The latest figures show that if the job losses in Scotland were spread fairly over the country, then Angus and Dundee could well be facing over 2000 job losses.
If people in Scotland are willing to pay higher taxes to maintain the services necessary for human flourishing, then there are at least two options available.
The Scottish Government could use its powers to raise the rate of income tax by three pence.
Further, the freeze on council tax could be ended.
This could be combined with changes that would make the tax more progressive, for example, by linking the charge to income or by increasing the number of council tax bands at the higher end.
(Very Rev) David Mumford.Dean of Brechin,9 Castle Street,Brechin.
No way back for Dundee FC
Sir,-To make a mess of things once is careless but to do it twice in a few years is unforgivable.
But that is where Dundee Football Club stand now.
It is absolutely no use blaming everyone else for a 25-point punishment, a ban on signing players and so on.
The fault lies within the club and a succession of blundering people who did not kick a ball but loved being on the board.
One seemingly certain outcome is that the city will have one club bearing its name.
But it won’t be an amalgamation of Dundee United and Dundee, or two clubs, one stadium, it will simply be the demise of one once-famous club unless a benefactor appears. Is this possible?
With money from television rights spilling out of their coffers, might one of the big guns in England stump up what is owed and, in the process, use Dundee as a feeder club? A good idea but one likely to be defeated because of rules and regulations.
Is there an oil sheikh who fancies investing in Dundee? Not likely because Rangers cannot even find a buyer because the game and television money are not big enough in Scotland. The odds seem stacked against the club surviving.
Ian Wheeler.Springfield,Cupar.
Double-dip recession risk
Sir,-The survey from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (Cips) confirms warnings from the Scottish Building Federation that the rise in construction output witnessed in the early part of this year was never going to last.
It is true that we have previously seen limited signs of recovery in the building sector, led by the residual benefits of public capital investment accelerated into the 2009/10 Scottish budget.
But it is worth noting that, throughout that period, private commercial construction and private house building have continued to struggle. With public capital spending potentially facing huge cuts, our members remain extremely worried about the short-term outlook for their business.
Showing the weakest performance for eight months, the newest figures from Cips suggest that, unless something is done to maintain public investment, the odds on a double-dip recession in Scottish construction are now looking shorter.
Michael Levack.Chief executive,Scottish Building Federation,4 Crichton’s Close,Edinburgh.
Pointless power objection
Sir,-Scottish National Heritage and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency have expressed outrage at plans for a new coal-fired power station at Hunterston, with SNH claiming it would cause “significant” damage.
In global terms, the carbon output will be puny.
China is building massive city extensions (construction is a major polluter) in areas with massive coal reserves, and they have a growing number of coal millionaires. India is expanding coal production.
Neither country will ignore natural resources, especially to counter arguments over global warming. If we listen to environmentalists we’ll end up with dearer electricity with no carbon reduction.
Robert Dow.Ormiston Road,Tranent.
Will V&A stand the test of time?
Sir,-The planned V&A building would be spectacular, if in its own space.
If the Victoria Arch is recreated in the vicinity of the V&A, as has been suggested, and with the impact of Discovery, which building would look out of place? Is it impossible to design buildings in keeping with our beautiful old ones?
Must one be conversant with the intricacies of architecture to appreciate what is magnificent, pleasing and enduring? When the salty Tay water and rime descend on the new facade, I can foresee this building ending the same way as other modern buildings in Dundee.
Elizabeth Stewart.23 Burrelton Gardens,Dundee.
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