Friday’s correspondents discuss Dundee’s control of its own destiny, Kenny MacAskill’s decision to release the Lockerbie bomber and the impact or otherwise of quantitative easing.
We must learn lessons of industrial history
Sir,-Andrew J. Lothian (August 24) commented upon my assessment of the demise of Realtime Worlds and claimed that, “Dundonians have the opportunity to write Dundee’s history, to create Dundee’s future.”
Dundee does indeed write its own history.
The present is with us for such a small instant then gone. History is always in the past.
I am indeed a product of that history and would celebrate with all of Dundee every success that comes to the city.
However, too many times in the past the city has been unable to deal with its future.
In the past, present or future, being realistic is at the central core of business.
My original letter focused on the danger of a five-year product development cycle.
A realistic and timely internet-based development programme is vital to the success of that product.
The realistic expectations of social networks such as Facebook and YouTube are clear.
Both gained online presence before constantly and dynamically developing to meet customer needs.
Both responded as market and customer needs developed.
Realtime Worlds aimed to be big and stay big in one action and with one game. Five years is a long time in the online world.
How many versions of Facebook and YouTube have passed into history in that time?
Marketing is not simply about singing loudly.
Marketing seeks to identify the customer, to retain that customer and to satisfy the customer by producing a product or service.
Realtime Worlds sung loudly to an empty space.
Realistic business links risk with expectations to ensure that a market is actually there before developing products in a realistic and timely manner.
Unrealistic expectations lead to risktaking and demands for tax support for those same risks and expectations.
Our 1980s history of Dundee tells us we had many talented engineers trained in many manufacturing industries with no jobs. We all also wrote that history.
Graham Duncan.7 Downie Park Road,Dundee.
Insightful journalism
Sir,-Jim Crumley’s Personal View of Kenny MacAskill’s decision to release Megrahi is the most honest piece of journalism I have ever read. It is both factual and honest.
The American senators questioning Mr MacAskill’s decision don’t know Scotland, or the Scots, very well.
Thousands of Scots, irrespective of their personal view of Mr MacAskill’s decision, will be saying to themselves what has this got to do with America, or words to the effect.
Jim Rodger.92 Ogilvy Street,Tayport.
Bomber release decision rushed
Sir,-Scottish justice minister Kenny MacAskill, standing by his decision to release Lockerbie bomber, Megrahi, early from prison said, “I knew it was going to divide.”
Your leader writer also took a similar line, stating, “At home, there are two camps. Some feel Megrahi should have spent the rest of his days in the Scottish jurisdiction, terminally ill or not. Others support the form of compassion that Mr MacAskill selected.”
There is, however, a third standpoint, the one I and, I am sure, many others hold and that is the view that Mr MacAskill was far too precipitate in coming to such a controversial decision.
Although several medical experts were apparently consulted before Dr Andrew Fraser submitted his final assessment, a more cautious and worldlywise politician, before making any decision, would have insisted on a far longer and more exhaustive process of consultation, with meetings of medical and legal experts from Scotland, England, the USA and possibly Libya, followed by public announcements of their recommendations.
There was good reason for caution. A leading cancer expert in London, for instance, has recently cast doubt on the wisdom of making a firm life-expectancy estimate of three months for Megrahi.
Mr MacAskill was himself very unwise to act upon the limited medical advice he received. For this Scottish Government, it is par for the course. Jubilation and schadenfreude in Libya, anger and indignation in the USA and, among many thinking Scots, consternation at the soft-touch, foolish image our nation presents to the world.
George K. McMillan.5 Mount Tabor Avenue,Perth.
Biomass plants unsustainable
Sir,-I have been following your articles about the proposed biomass plant in Dundee.
I have not seen any mention of the recent 61-page independent report by John Clegg Consulting.
Produced for the Forestry Commission and the Confederation of Forest Industries, its conclusions are that with 47 existing plants and 18 proposed in the pipeline, their long-term viability, without importing millions of tonnes of waste, is unsustainable due to limited supply in the UK and must also increase the price of other existing forest products.
Alistair Wallace.Sorrelwood Cottage,Fort William.
Squandered opportunity
Sir,-The Bank of England’s £200 billion quantitative easing seems to have disappeared without trace and some believe this will cause inflation.
If the money had been used to build roads, railways, hospitals and schools we would have a visible, long-lasting benefit and much-needed employment.
William W. Scott.23 St Baldred’s Road,North Berwick.
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