On our correspondents’ minds today are the plight of the elderly, involvement in the Libyan conflict, Scotland’s CO2 emmissions target, the threat of social isolation for the disabled and a masonic query.
Councillors ignoring plight of prudent elderly
Sir,-I agree with Age Concern Scotland (March 3) when they say that it will be the elderly who will feel the force of spending cuts that have been imposed by Perth and Kinross Council.
Age Concern is correct when it indicates that many older people are having to find extra funds to pay for vital services. Perth and Kinross councillors do not have any real understanding of the suffering they are inflicting on the elderly or they would not introduce such cuts and charges, placing extra burdens on us.
Many of us have saved to find that we are no better off in old age, in fact, we are worse off. Costs will keep rising and we will have to keep on paying or making choices as to what we can afford to do or have.
One day these councillors will be old and only then may they completely understand our plight.
(Mrs) Mary Lumsden.New House Road,Perth.
Do not interfere in Libya conflict
Sir,-It is difficult to imagine a more cackhanded way of managing the conflict in Libya than that adopted by the British Government (March 7). It may be inexperience in foreign affairs but on a number of counts Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague have got it wrong.
Mr Hague destroys his credibility by suggesting that he had evidence that Colonel Gaddafi had departed for Venezuela when there wasn’t a scintilla of evidence to support this. Then Mr Cameron put forward proposals for a no-fly zone without consulting allies.
Now there is the fiasco of SAS personnel and diplomats landing in the country to have discussions with those opposing the regime, being captured, and then dispatched by sea to Malta. Has this government learned nothing from events in Iraq and elsewhere?
As yet, the events in Libya remain a civil conflict. World opinion seems to be on the side of the insurgents. There are fine words about the need for democracy in the Arab states but this is Libya’s problem for the moment.
The only body that should be offering mediation services of whatever kind is the United Nations.
Colonel Gaddafi’s approach may yet change to something more sinister but until that happens we should all be circumspect about involving ourselves in a dispute that is Libya’s concern and does not pose danger for other nations.
Bob Taylor.24 Shiel Court,Glenrothes.
Policies could bankrupt nation
Sir,-Does this make sense or have I got something wrong? As Scotland’s CO2 emission equals 0.02% of the world’s total, the First Minister has decided, in order to save the planet, we must reduce this figure by 40%.
However, as the Scottish Government’s policy is to encourage greater immigration, in order to meet this target, more heavily subsidised wind farms will have to be constructed.
As most of us are aware, turbines alone will not meet our energy requirements. Consequently our needs will have to be supplemented at great cost from nuclear countries such as France, making our energy costs possibly the highest in the industrialised world.
This, in turn, makes our industries less competitive. Meanwhile our politicians will continue with their energy policy until Scotland verges on the brink of bankruptcy.
Dan Arnott.1 St Brycedale Court,Kirkcaldy.
Cut will create social isolation
Sir,-In the comprehensive spending review the Chancellor announced that the government would be removing the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for those people who live in residential care homes.
Disability charities and organisations, such as Mencap, are campaigning against this decision. They are very concerned that, as an unintended consequence of this proposal, many people with a learning disability will no longer be able to afford to go out and meet with friends and families, participate in external social activities and engage with their communities.
I believe the government has misunderstood how disabled people use this important benefit. Without this lifeline, many disabled people in residential care will lose much of their independence.
John Fitzgerald.18 Clement Park Road,Dundee.
“Evidence” of masonic bias
Sir,-I would like to thank John S. Gove (March 4) for his testimonial confirming my view that masons do help their brethren in trouble. When people are in court, they are usually in trouble.
Brian Lawrence (March 3), however, says I am mistaken in believing that Freemasons belong to a secret society. Rather he says it is “allegory and mystery.”
Leaving aside what is a matter of opinion, he states that Freemasonry places no demands on their members other than to be good citizens. That is not what Anderson’s Constitution says.
These ancient masonic rules drawn up by Dr James Anderson of Aberdeen in 1723 are read out at the initiation of brethren and are specific in what they demand. In Section VI, Behaviour towards a strange brother, they demand that a mason must, “prefer a poor brother, that is a good man and true, before any other poor people in the same circumstance”.
I would have thought this is a perfect definition of positive bias towards masons over the rest of us.
As for Mr Lawrence’s claim that masonic judges would go against this basic tenet of their craft, the newspapers are hardly bursting with stories of judges and sheriffs standing down for this reason.
That is what one would expect given the prevalence of Freemasonry in Scotland, which one Past Master Mason of Scotland believed to be “part of the warp and weft of public life in Scotland”.
Tom Minogue.94 Victoria Terrace,Dunfermline.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL.