Sir, It bemuses and intrigues me where Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon get their unbridled (admirable) but fantastical optimism about Scotland’s economic and social wellbeing in the new dawn of independence.
Apparently, they assert, we will suddenly have a squeaky clean political class making the Westminster crowd look like a branch of the mafia. Additionally, you will always get the government you vote for and free services covering almost everything will be on offer … just ask!
We will have the prospect of foreign employers and manufacturers elbowing each other out of the way to set up in a country whose workforce has eschewed strikes, accepts lower competitive wages and increased taxation with equanimity, while being quite amenable to welcoming tens of thousands of immigrants to job share.
Invited foreign students (except those from the rest of the UK) will be welcomed in their thousands to benefit from free education, all at the expense of a grateful Scottish taxpayer.
According to the yes camp, we will be courted by all the world and his pal and they’ll do whatever Mr Salmond decrees is best for us. Shared currency? No problem. EU membership with the rules amended to suit us? Absolutely no problem! Oh, and we’ll default on our debts and it will make zero difference to how others view us? Yup, guaranteed! Spending on defence? Don’t be daft, everyone loves us! Naturally, they suggest, oil will last and pay for everything.
And all this is definitely going to happen? Yes! And just how is it going to happen? Well, er … because Mr Salmond says so.
Meanwhile, back in the real world, the rest us of have a decision to make. Yes or no? I’ve got a feeling that it’s not going to take a rocket scientist to work that one out.
Iain G. Richmond. Guildy House, Monikie.
Road safety must not be left to lawyers
Sir, With reference to the reports about speeding infringements in The Courier on February 28, I was always under the impression that a legally-produced speed limit sign a red circle with a number inside indicating the safest circumstantial maximum speed was always valid in law, irrespective of whether some council had forgotten to rescind it.
It is not for drivers to divine this. Nor lawyers, I would suggest.
The idiotic complexity of our legal system again manifests itself.
Surely a bit of sensible liaising between our road traffic police and local authorities should be sufficient to impose safety-orientated speed limits on stretches of our roads without complicated ‘orders’ .
The public should also be entitled to know, of course, wherever practicable.
A. T. Geddie. 68 Carleton Avenue, Glenrothes.
The kindness of strangers
Sir, My faith in human kindness has been restored tenfold. In town recently I had a nasty fall in which I broke my shoulder. While waiting for the ambulance, more than one person covered me with their jacket and one lady even offered to go with me to hospital. The ambulance man carefully removed my rings, just in case my fingers became swollen.
Since coming home the next day, I have had from friends, neighbours and family many calls, cards, flowers and visits. Many offers of help have been given, from shopping to ironing.
I have been provided with home-made soup and a delicious home-baked cake. It is almost worth the pain. Who says people don’t care nowadays?
Mrs J. Young. 2A Crathie Place, Dundee.
Respect the Dambusters
Sir, All thinking people will be offended by Alex Salmond’s use of the word “Dambuster” in a negative context, for the sake of denigrating Westminster.
Operation Chastise conducted by 19 Lancaster bombers of 617 Squadron, “The Dambusters”, during the Second World War to breach three German dams in pursuit of our war effort cost the lives of 53 brave airmen who flew on that vital British mission.
For the First Minister of Scotland to use this word in such a casual manner, shows an appalling lack of judgment and sensitivity.
Malcolm Parkin. 15 Gamekeepers Road, Kinnesswood, Kinross.
What about postal service?
Sir, What with all the hullabaloo over the currency in an independent Scotland, has anyone given any thought about what will happen to the postal services?
I am sure the Post Office will not be keen to have a two-currency system with Britain.
Where does that leave independent Scotland? Are we going to have a private company trying to run a postal service within Scotland that is compatible with the system in thefuture UK?
Although letters and cards are in decline as part of the postal service, businesses still need an efficient system for correspondence and parcels, as do the general public.
I would like to hear what thought has been given to the matter.
B. Jacobi. Wishart Place, Dundee.