Sir, Iain G Richmond’s glowing eulogy in support of wealth creators (letters, November 28) makes interesting reading and will no doubt appeal to those devout supporters of capitalism.
He is right to point out that all the other “isms” that have been tried have failed and they did so for the very reason that capitalism goes on. Capitalism works because it allows human greed to flourish and he fails to mention that the wealth creators he embraces did what they did for their own benefit in the first place.
The fact that the society to which they belong benefits too is down to the tax regimes in their country of operation, though, given half a chance, I believe many of them would engage in schemes to avoid payment of the levy.
Any country needs funds, usually generated from general taxation, to meet its administration costs but some so-called wealth creators do not see the need to support these running costs, preferring to delegate that responsibility to others usually worse off than themselves.
There is nothing wrong with wealth creation but human beings are born with different attributes and the notion that we are all blessed with the same drive and determination to succeed in the world is totally misplaced. It would be most odd and undesirable if we were all the same.
Nobody who has experienced hard times has necessarily capitulated to failure and self-pity and it seems most strange indeed that in our so described vigorously affluent society that there should exist even one food-bank let alone a hundred or so, unless Mr Richmond was describing a country other than the UK.
The people who man these charitable units do so because the need exists and they care about those who are struggling, not because they are of a “leftie” persuasion.
There is nothing wrong, either, in giving credit where credit is due and the same sentiment can be applied to the criticism of greed where it exists, which in some people’s eyes is often applauded as enterprise.
Allan A MacDougall. 37 Forth Park, Bridge of Allan.
Returning to Victorian levels
Sir, As a member of the Scottish Green Party and a small business owner, I dis-agree with the tone of Iain G Richmond’s letter (November 28). He is quite right to assert that businesses create wealth and that genuine entrepreneurs should be allowed to get on without too much interference from the state. They are not the problem.
The problem is directors of big corporations who feel they are entitled to pay themselves obscene amounts of money simply because they went to the “right” school. The argument they have to be paid these salaries to get the best managers has been soundly trashed by the top bankers who proved that they were useless at the task, as were Westminster politicians who failed to regulate the banks properly.
To add insult to injury the same Westminster establishment is now punishing the poor for the mistakes of the rich whilst the wealthy bankers carry on as before.
Iain uses the now discredited “trickle down” argument that lots of money for the elite feeds down to the poorest in society. What actually happens is that elite use their status to exploit workers with poor pay, zero hours and the like. The gap between rich and poor is returning to Victorian levels and Westminster has no intention of reversing this trend.
Andrew Collins. Skinners Steps, Cupar.
Appalled by behaviour
Sir, I was utterly appalled by the loutish behaviour among some shoppers on Friday advertised as Black Friday, an import from America we could well do without.
The scenes of anarchy, greed and disrespect for others with police getting involved and some stores having to close as a result was very distressing to watch. Is this what this country has come to?
As well as the greed of society I blame the stores for allowing this to happen. They hyped up these events in advertising and opened the doors with no queuing structure in place it was just asking for trouble.
Who is going to pick up the bill for policing this chaos? I hope the stores are sent a big bill (as happens to football clubs) as they can well afford it.
It was a Black Friday indeed as we saw humanity at its lowest point. I hope lessons will be learned from this.
Gordon Kennedy. 117 Simpson Square, Perth.
No personal responsibility
Sir, Black Friday? Bleak Friday! The news was full of stories of mayhem at stores in the UK offering massive discounts on this shopping day an idea that has been exported from America as a pre-holiday shopping opportunity to purchase discounted goods in advance of the holiday season.
In Britain we witnessed shoppers fighting in the aisles over a few pounds of savings. We saw neighbour fighting neighbour for iPad tablets and discounted wide screen televisions.
Sadly, in some reports this has been blamed on American influence. It has been blamed on capitalistic indoctrination and also blamed on government policy failing to provide basic necessities.
I long for the day when we embrace common sense in our society. A day when we recognise greed for what it is and place responsibility on the individuals involved.
Fighting over a 50-inch television is not the fault of America or capitalism or government policy. It is what it is . . . pure greed and the lack of personal responsibility in our society. Personal responsibility has become a thing of the past in Britain. We’ve been taught to blame everyone else but ourselves.
Bill Davis. Reres Road, Broughty Ferry.
Well, what a surprise!
Sir, So an academic study has shown incidences of domestic abuse go up on football match days (Courier, November 29). What a surprise! I’ll bet there’s not a police officer in the country who could not have told them that!
Laurie Richards. 100 Crail Road, Cellardyke.
Where is green Germany now?
Sir, Brown coal, lignite, is being extracted from the Janschwalde opencast mine in Eastern Germany to provide fuel for electric power plants. Last year, a quarter of the German gross electricity production was from lignite.
So what happened to the green Germany that environmentalists loved with its forests of wind turbines and solar panels? One reason is that Germany promised to shut down all of its nuclear plants by 2020 after the tsunami and nuclear meltdown in Japan. The other is that the cost of renewable energy is having a serious impact on the ability of German industry (especially energy intensive industries) to compete in the world market, resulting in the social consequences from rising unemployment. Europe is also importing cheap coal from America.
Looks like King Coal will be around for a long time with the resultant increase in CO2 levels. Would someone please tell Britain how futile their green efforts are . . . !
Dan Arnott. St Brycedale Court, Kirkcaldy.
What about help at home?
Sir, I see, once again, an African country has got out the begging bowl and government here is throwing more of British taxpayers’ money at it. Can someone please tell me what the government of those suffering is doing to help its own people? Is this situation ever going to change?
We have been giving to Africa since I was a child, and the lot of ordinary people there has not improved, at least not through help from any of the regimes in power.
Like John Gunn (letters, November 28), I am sick to death of government in this country caring more for foreigners than they do for people born and bred here who are forced to use foodbanks to feed themselves and their families, because the government elected to look after them is more concerned with giving away our hard-earned cash to outsiders.
As there are supposed austerity measures in place, where is the money coming from to give away?
(Mrs) June Reid. 12 Findhorn Street, Dundee.