Sir, – We live in interesting times.
The financial crash of 2008, the vast and growing inequality of wealth where around 85 people have as much wealth as half the planet, colossal public debt, runaway global warming, unending public austerity and zero-hours contracts all show that our neo-liberal orthodoxy is bust.
As individuals we feel a sense of hopelessness.
At a local level we can see symptoms of this malaise in microcosm.
The closure of McEwens, a long-established store in Perth which catered for the middle classes, reflects the growth of internet shopping, and the decline in local spending power.
The mothballing of Perth City Hall, which had been actively used by the community for many years, is a symptom of loss of real local control.
What is the answer? Our current system, left to its own devices, is failing.
Central planning of the old Soviet type does not work, and untrammelled capitalism is a disaster for the planet.
We need to build a new system from the ground up.
It is imperative to try, even at this late stage, to limit potentially calamitous climate-warming emissions.
There is a need for governments to address big structural changes, energy grids and rail services that the private sector will not, and cannot, tackle.
On a local level we need communities taking control of their lives, their energy needs,housing, public transport, ecology as well as jobs.
The proposal to use Perth City Hall as a food market for local produce and as a community hub, is one example that should be applauded and supported.
Politicians, both local and national, need to wake up and stop thinking in old ways.
If they do not, people power is the only hope.
We need a new model of society if this little planet is to survive for much longer.
Robert Booth. 6 Kirkfield Place, Auchterarder.
Angus care fight will continue
Sir, – Rob McLaren’s article on tenant support officers in Angus (April 5) mentions “charity chief Mr Malone”.
Services for the elderly have gone back to being charity?
Perhaps somebody should tell Mr Charles Dickens so he can write a new book about this.
What we have here is Angus Council privatising services which were previously social and replacing them with an odd confusion between charity and profit.
There’s always somebody who does well out of the opportunities created by confusion.
It is questionable whether Voluntary Action Angus is a charity or a business.
The chief executive officer of that organisation has rather a good salary and perks, and no doubt anticipates enhancement as a result of this deal.
We in Angus Against Cuts were against this privatisation from the start. We called several demonstrations to protest against it, and if either our councillors or Mr Malone think they can now get away with presenting this as a done deal, which is in the interests of all those affected, without being constantly challenged on that in the weeks, months, and years to come, they are going to have another think coming.
Dave Coull. 7 Inglis Court, Edzell.
Little choice for Scottish voters
Sir, – I object to the indoctrination of school children into radical gender ideology, as proposed by Nicola Sturgeon.
So, how do I express my view through the democratic process?
Labour, Lib Dems and Greens are competing to outdo the SNP by going further in this direction.
The Conservatives might have offered an alternative view, but they don’t.
They are right wing economically, but not socially conservative.
The last hope is UKIP, but David Coburn is not capable of articulating an intelligent argument either way.
Richard Lucas. 11 Broomyknowe, Colinton, Edinburgh.
Think again on dog chipping
Sir, – I read the article on the latest law where all dogs have to be chipped at eight weeks or before sale.
I have been chipping all our dogs for five years but never did so until they were mature: about 12 to 15 months.
I did chip a litter of Labradors last year at 12 weeks given the impending legislation. All went well but we had a bleed in one bitch which was repaired on site easily.
I have just had a litter of working cocker spaniels chipped at 12 weeks before sale. It was a major job on small dogs and the pups were all stressed for a few days.
We had a great politician some years ago who said the law is an ass. On this occasion he would be correct. Chipping is a great idea overall but not on eight-week-old pups, only on mature dogs.
I am sure there will be major issues with small dogs (like bleeds and trauma ) being chipped at such a young age. Our Government needs to think again.
George Sangster. Woodlands, Logie Craigo, Montrose.
A terrible way to treat doctors
Sir, – With another walkout in the junior doctors’ dispute in England, I am in total support of what they are doing.
Jeremy Hunt’s handling of the situation has been appalling and his flat refusal to negotiate or listen to doctors’ concerns is disgraceful. How many patients’ lives are going to be disrupted by cancelled surgery?
Junior doctors work exceptionally hard and the new contract being imposed is not only unsafe but morally reprehensible.
To deliver the Government promise of seven-day working in primary and secondary care this will require an increased number of doctors.
The current industrial dispute is likely to result in a loss of highly-trained UK medical staff because of low morale.
How does the Government plan to undertake the proposed changes with a reduced number of doctors?
It is time for Jeremy Hunt to do the honourable thing and resign.
Gordon Kennedy. 117 Simpson Square, Perth.
Accept will of the nation
Sir, – As we enter the final month of campaigning for the Scottish Parliament elections we will once again have to endure the daily fear and smear stories in our media.
However, the question being asked on May 5 is actually much more simple than we are often hoodwinked into believing.
We actually have one political party which is not a branch office with their bosses based in London so there can only be one party which is fully in charge of its own manifesto.
Therefore, any pledges and policies from the nationalists are the only ones that truly have the needs and aspirations of Scotland at heart.
All the others must dance to the tune of our unelected leaders at Westminster who simply cannot accept the direction in which our nation is travelling.
Richard Clark. Craigton, Monikie.
Strange silence on China deal
Sir, – The Scottish Government’s new best friend, China, moved quickly to censor all news related to the Panama Papers after relatives of eight members of the Politburo appeared in the Mossack Fonseca archives.
After Chinese communism morphed into bureaucratic capitalism, clan princelings created a crony state and took control of all capitalist enterprises.
The resulting loot had to be offshored and I doubt Panama is the only friendly nation willing to help out which may explain why there was initial reticence about what Alex Salmond later hailed as the Scottish Government’s secret Chinese deal.
Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.
Brexit would boost Scotland
Sir, – Alex Salmond must be very apprehensive about the outcome of the European referendum.
A vote for Brexit would give Scotland a huge range of new powers to add to the new devolution deal.
These powers would include control of our farming and fisheries policies.
For the first time since we joined the old Common Market, control of who can fish in our seas and how much we can catch would be decided by the Goverment in Edinburgh.
The Scottish fishing fleet would double in size, bringing jobs at sea and on land.
But the SNP don’t want that. They would hand control back to Brussels.
That would make an interesting conversation for Mr Salmond on the Peterhead quayside.
Bob Stark. Mill Street, Tillicoultry.