Sir, During a recent visit to Merseyside I was surprised to hear the level of interest in our forthcoming referendum.
The feeling amongst everyone I spoke to was a mixture of profound sadness and concern if we voted “yes”.
Sadness, because we may be destroying part of the enduring quality of the UK.
They appreciated the commercial benefits that Scotland contributed in the form of oil revenues, taxation from whisky exports, and many others but thought that we were being selfish in wanting to remove these from the rest of the UK when they obviously contributed so much to the economy.
They found it difficult to understand why a left-leaning Scottish Government would want to inflict increased hardship in this way on the rest of the UK.
They were also concerned that a “yes” vote would condemn them to Tory governments for a generation, something they viewed with horror. The overall attitude was that they hoped for a “no” vote in September.
It is always interesting “to see ourselves as others see us”.
Colin Gunn. 327 Montford Avenue, Rutherglen, Glasgow.
Scotland is the perfect size
Sir, I was somewhat bemused by Joseph A Peterson’s claim that “History would suggest it is the largest countries that do best post-independence, not the smallest” (letters, April 9). All the evidence suggests otherwise.
The 2013 UN Human Development Index a global comparative measure of life expectancy, literacy, education and quality of life is dominated by small, independent countries like Norway (1st), New Zealand (6th), Ireland (7th), Sweden (7th), Switzerland (9th), Iceland (13th), Denmark (15th) and Finland (21st).
For gender equality, the UN ranks the UK (34th) and China (35th) behind Sweden (2nd), Denmark (3rd), Norway (5th), Finland (6th) and Iceland (10th).
The average population of the world’s five richest countries, according to the IMF, by GDP per capita Qatar (1st), Luxembourg (2nd), Singapore (3rd), Norway (4th) and Brunei (5th) is just 2.6 million people.
The 2013 Global Peace Index, which ranks highly states with low levels of crime, violence, instability, militarism and hostility towards their neighbours, is dominated by small countries. For the third year running, Iceland (1st), Denmark (2nd) and New Zealand (3rd) were the most peaceful countries. The UK (44th), meanwhile, languishes behind the likes of Finland (7th), Sweden (9th), Norway (11th), Ireland (12th) and even Vietnam (41st).
No wonder then that, according to the 2013 UN World Happiness Report, the world’s happiest people live in small countries like Denmark (1st), Norway (2nd), Switzerland (3rd), Sweden (5th), Finland (7th) and Iceland (9th).
The evidence is clear: smaller nations are the most prosperous, peaceful, equal and happy. Since gaining their independence in the early 20th century, the Nordic countries have become world leaders. Conversely, bigger states like the UK or Italy, the USA or China, are riddled with inequality, insecurity, corruption and poverty. As a northern European nation of just over five million people, Scotland is the perfect size.
David Kelly. 17 Highfields, Dunblane.
Confusing changes
Sir, The proposed changes on Riverside Drive (Wednesday’s Courier), will, as described, leave a four-lane, 40mph section (between the two Tesco roundabouts) with a 30mph section on either side. How very confusing!
Timothy Weakley. 65A Magdalen Yard Road, Dundee.
Misplaced compassion
Sir, With regard to Ronald Oliver’s letter, April 9, I very much appreciate that his heart is in the right place, but perhaps, on occasion, for the wrong people.
There was no greater tragedy than someone hung, who was innocent of the crime, excepting the lot of those, who are now victim to murderers released to murder again.
Unrestrained compassion is a folly in the face of unrestrained evil and execution is no crime in the face of irrefutable evidence. Perhaps the misplaced compassion of our current establishment is best shown by an old joke.
A victim of brutal assault lay bleeding profusely on the kerbside of a busy road. Many passed him by without any notice, until a social worker, with deep concern written all over his face, approached him only to ask: “Do you know who did this to you? They really need our help!”
Leslie Isles Milligan. 18b Myrtlehall Gardens, Dundee.
An easy way to stop scandals
Sir, MPs’ expenses scandals can easily be stopped. Pay every MP a basic salary, then special payments for promoted posts, then add on extra allowances in accordance with the distance their constituencies are from Westminster.
Thereafter, only expenses incurred in the course of their work could be claimed and then only after receipts have been submitted.
What’s the problem? A tight system like this would end this vicious cycle of scandals over expenses and there would be big savings in staff required to administer it.
George K McMillan. 5, Mount Tabor Avenue, Perth.