Sir, Your correspondent Charles Henderson seems to believe Norway is not an exemplar nation due to its high cost of living (January 17).
This is, of course, more than offset by the fact Norwegian salaries are some of the highest in the developed world.
Norwegians enjoy the second-highest GDP per capita and fourth-highest purchasing power per capita in the world.
Today, Norway ranks as the second-wealthiest country in the world in monetary value, with the largest capital reserve per capita of any nation.
Norway is a net external creditor of debt and maintained first place in the world in the UNDP Human Development Index, which measures a composite statistic of life expectancy, education and income, for eight out of the last 10 years.
The standard of living in Norway is among the highest in the world and Foreign Policy Magazine ranks Norway last in its Failed States Index, judging Norway to be the world’s most well-functioning and stable country.
Meanwhile, here in Scotland, we have the worst health outcomes, lowest salaries and fewest public holidays.
Yet Edinburgh is the dearest place to have a weekend break and Scotland has just been named as the one of the dearest places in Britain to buy a pint, a particular concern of Mr Henderson, apparently.
As an American politician once remarked: “Calling yourself Great Britain; Is that ironic?”
Finally, I would clarify that I am not a member of the SNP, as Mr Henderson implied, however I have seen where 300 years of union have left Scotland and I believe that our assets have been squandered.
Scots should have it so much better.
Henry Malcolm. 331 Clepington Road, Dundee.
Taxes go back to benefit the citizens
Sir, Andrew Dundas (January 16) refers to the “arc of prosperity”.
He dismisses Iceland and Ireland, even though both of these countries were out of recession before the UK.
He also fails to mention that the other countries listed did not go into a deep recession because their governments regulated the banks properly, unlike the Westminster Parliament.
He talks about the higher taxes in the Nordic countries as though this money just disappears.
In fact, that money is ploughed back to their citizens in the form of better nursery care, better public transport and so on.
The United Nations inequality adjusted HDI (Human Development Index) shows that these same countries, of a similar size to Scotland, are the best in the world at looking after their citizens. This is not a coincidence; the closer the parliament is to the people, the more likely it is that it will make the right decisions for them.
Andrew Collins. Ladyburn House, Skinners Steps, Cupar.
Resorting to personal attack
Sir, Peter Mulheron (January 16) appears to follow the SNP party trend of personally attacking any opponent of Scottish independence rather than indulge in factual debate. I have never been a frustrated Tory as alleged.
In this crucial year, which will decide the future of Scotland and the UK, I am a proud and ardent supporter of the strong Scottish Alliance of Labour, Lib Dems and Conservatives, plus thousands of Scots with no political affiliation, who are urging Scotland to reject the SNP’s wish to separate us from the United Kingdom.
Recent polls still show that around 70% of Scottish people support the Better Together Campaign for a strong and progressive Britain.
I suggest that any frustration is in the minds of the 30% who agree with Mr Mulheron.
Angus Brown. The Orchard, Station Road, Longforgan.
Generous with our money
Sir, I see from Thursday’s Courier that the UK Government is again being profligate with British citizens’ money, by pledging to give £11 million to Syria, while thousands of our own people are being forced to use food banks in order to survive.
When will those in power realise that they are in office to look after the needs of their own citizens first, instead of trying to look good with their generosity to other foreign countries?
June Reid. 12 Findhorn Street, Dundee.
Made rod for his own back
Sir, Ed Miliband bemoans so many graduates being “forced” to take menial work, but he was part of a government whose target was to place 50% of our teens in college.
He also claims graduates who start in low-paid work are rarely able to move up the ladder but that is not surprising if they hold a Mickey Mouse degree from a pretendy university.
Exactly where is one going with Manchester’s Abuse Studies with Dance, Northampton’s Third World Studies and Pop Music or Bath’s Circus and Physical Performance?
Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.