Tag: letters

Letter: the cold hard truth

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Dear Editor

With winter approaching millions of people will be faced with the increasing cost of their fuel bills. For too many households it will be a question of heating the house properly or eating enough, both cannot be done.

Yet the industries that supply the means to do so make millions of pounds for investors in these privately owned compamies. It cannot be right that such essential services to sustain life should be run for private profit whilst every year there are thousands of cold related illnesses and deaths These services should and must be publicly owned using the profits made, for the benefit all.

This situation equally applies to the transport industry of Rail,Bus and Tram services that are needed to get to and from work. This is a big expense for most people, yet again millions are made for investors in these private companies: again this cannot be right. As people have to travel to their places of work these essential services should be publicly owned and operated for the benefit of all.

A. Delahoy (by email)  

Letters: taking our time

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Dear Editor,

Industry and agriculture across the world are already capable of providing for the needs of people everywhere, if this is the case why is it not being done? Millions are living in poverty and millions are living on the edge of starvation What are the causes of this terrible situation, and is it beyond our thinking to devise a system that doesn’t have slumps, unemployment and hardship imposed on people?

The present system of capitalism where financial institutions and individuals command great wealth and power that goes with it moving money around the world seeking maximum profit as their main and only consideration.

The question must arise, how did they manage to acquire this great wealth and power to control peoples lives? Historically, through stealing and fighting to obtain land then being in a position to control the lives of people who lived on the land ,this being done through systems of work, Slavery, Serfdom, Feudalism.

Rapid technology from the 17th century on brought in the present system of Capitalism, maintaining their control of the most valuable asset, peoples labour time New technologies increase the inability of the Capitalist system to organise and solve problems here and worldwide because it is based on private wealth and interests.

The value of articles is based on costs of materials, power, transport, etc.  and the amount of wages paid to produce it. If this process takes a percentage of a working day, say 4 hours out of 8 hours, everything produced in the second 4 hours is free of labour costs: this is the source of their profits. The flaw in the system is that more is being produced than can be bought by the people that produced them, This is why the capitalist system goes from boom to slump repeatedly, devastating peoples lives.

This surplus of goods is partially covered by exporting and/or trade wars with other countries, but the problem cannot be solved that way particularly as ever new technology is develops. Capitalism is no longer able to solve its problems; it twists and turns but will not give up its control over peoples time. Extending zero hours contracts and the junior doctors working hours are modern variations of slavery in which the employers control not only working time but all time.

This kind of freedom for the wealthy few denies freedom for millions and, as we see every day, sometimes their lives.

Tony Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

Letter: Cycle Friendly? No appetite to tackle transport issues

 

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Dear Editor

As both a driver and cyclist within the city I share many of the concerns regarding the poor state of road surfaces. I want to focus this letter on Ferry Road which is a major transport artery. It is full or ruts and is generally poorly maintained and where there have been attempts at ad hoc repairs they are of a very poor quality.  There is indeed an irony that on the one hand the council tries to encourage people to walk and cycle – yet the road network is not friendly towards cycle users – or cars, for that matter!

Now I hear some voices saying: use the cycle way – of course that is a good option, however there are occasions when that is not viable due to the destination.

Let me focus on a particular issue that highlights an apparent contradiction in policy towards cycling.  There is a lined cycle way  that runs from Crewe Toll to Granton Road – both sides.  However that does not stop cars parking on the pavement and across the ‘dedicated’ cycle route beside Stewarts Melville rugby when there are matches on. It appears that there is no appetite to do anything about this. That gets at the heart of my cynicism. This double standard where there is a policy of promotion of cycling on the one hand whilst not dealing with an issue that is in direct conflict with the same policy.

I attended the recent Forth Neighbourhood Partnership meeting. The issue of transport was raised at the meeting in light of the growth of the Granton Harbour developments going forward.  The issue of increased traffic growth and in particular concerns that residents on Lower Granton Road have had for years is still outstanding and won’t go away.  Local Community Councils and community groups have been calling for a review of the transport plan for this area for at least two years – again there appears no appetite for this to happen.

Yours faithfully

Dave Macnab

West Ferryfield, Edinburgh

 

 

 

Letter: Political Assassination

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Dear Editor
The anti-Jeremy Corby campaign is relentless. It is to the shame of those labour members of parliament who have not only joined in but have and are actively taking part.
Jeremy Corbyn was elected as the leader of the labour party on policies supported and expounded by him.So what has happened ?, Jeremy Corbyn still supports and campaigns for those policies he was elected on, it is his opponents who have changed their minds and claiming that he, Corbyn, is splitting the party
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This allegation is denying reality in that far from splitting the labour party it has grown to over 500,000 since he was elected the leader, This number being larger than all other party memberships put together!
The conclusion must be it is the policies the anti-Corbyn campaigners disagree with but have not the honesty to say so,Further,, their course of action should have been to debate policies in the democratic structures of the party instead of choosing to act as they have.
A. Delahoy (by email)

Letters: No time to lose

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Dear Editor

For decades Unions and Associations of working people have struggled to reduce working hours: the employers have always resisted.

It has taken many generations to get the working week reduced from seven days to five days and from having to work unlimited hours reduced to a forty hours week.

As time went on, new technology produced a greater output: this, coupled with worker pressure, helped to gain justice. Again, it was not a change of heart by the employer.

Today’s technology has vastly raised output needing a highly regulated distribution service. Also, employers in increasing numbers are operating different forms of employment: zero hours contracts, split duties spread over seven days and sometimes ‘flexible’ hours – all these schemes are designed to have a workforce available to suit the employer. It costs them less, saving on pension schemes, sick pay benefit and no security of employment.

Unions and Workers Associations have to urgently rethink their ideas on working hours and conditions. As new technology is and will be developed, we must ensure the value created by them is used to benefit all people in whatever way they want it, not simply tomake the very wealthy even more so.

A. Delahoy, Silverknowes Gardens

Letters: Change WILL come

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Dear Editor

We are asked by the new leaders of the Conservative government to accept as genuine that there will be a change in attitude towards people and that they will pursue policies fair to all.

We have to remember they are politically commited to maintaining the system of capitalism. The system where very wealthy financial institutions have the power to invest depending on the amount of profit to be made – if not enough, they will have no hesitation in moving to where it can, anywhere worldwide. In doing so, the issue of jobs, poverty or family life does not concern them, so the potential contradiction between words and deeds of the political supporters of the system arise.

As the last six years have shown, despite any feelings of sorrow expressed they will always pass the cost of a slump onto the people in widespread cuts across all aspects of life.

Their determination to maintain a system that creates such devastation to peoples’ lives worldwide is matched by an equal determination by many others to replace it with a more just, fair and workable system of socialism, where the results of people’s work will be used to benefit all, not just the few.

History shows that systems have always changed when circumstances made it necessary and able to do so, from slavery to serfdom to feudalism to capitalism. It will change again because peoples’ circumstances will make it.

A. Delahoy, Silverknowes Gardens

Letters: Red Alert over rampant nationalism

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Dear Editor

In living memory we saw before and during World War II how bad rampant nationalism can be.

Today the rise of nationalism is leading to more advocacy by the right wing of an ‘anti-everyone not a national from their country’, it is a form of racism and a tactic to divide people, instead of tackling the real problems working people face.

This is being seen in places like America, France, Germany and many other countries including the UK: this was particularly evident during the referendum, the result of which is already showing its affects on the economy and helping those using divisive talk and actions.

The danger signal is at red, we must not go down this road again: it solves nothing, and poses great danger.

A.Delahoy (by e-mail) 

Letters: Something fishy about EU stories

Dear Editor

Much of the information about the EU put out by ‘Leave’ campaigners was untrue or misleading. One example of this was about the fishing industry: we were told the fishing boats were destroyed by the EU paying to have the boats burnt.

The truth is that fish stocks had reached danger point of running out due to overfishing so all members of the EU agreed a reduction in the catch over a period of time to allow the stocks to replenish. This would involve a reduction in everyones fishing fleet but compensation would be paid from EU funds.
Without this agreement fishing fleets faced destruction by falling fish stocks.

This agreement has worked well because it was in the common interest of all members, but since opting to ‘Leave’ the possibility of owners of big fleets calling for a return to as much as possible catches brings with it two dangers: the overfishing danger to stocks and the danger of confrontation with others as happened between Iceland and ourselves over cod fishing, which nearly involved gunboats!

This is the reality of misleading information on this issue alone: a closer look at others and the reasons why are needed. The full effects, particularly on working people in leaving the EU, was not talked about but you can bet they will try to make us pay for it, if we let them.

Tony Delahoy (by email)

Letter: EU’ve been duped

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Dear Editor

The UK-wide confusion caused by the referendum resulted in an approximately 50-50 split. It is now obvious that many things told by the ‘Leave’ side were untrue and misleading.

It is always easy to blame others for misfortunes; the Leave side did this quite successfully in parts of the UK. It shows once again the power of publicity in shaping minds and attitudes.

It was not the EU that imposed tremendous cuts of all kinds on working people over the last six years, it was the Conservative Party government, in which most of the leaders of the ‘Leave’ campaign served and supported.

These same people have led 50% of the population to think the EU is to blame: and what is more, they have created a situation where further cuts on working people will be made.

At this most serious moment when the Labour movement must unite in resisting the imposition of further cuts and proposing an alternative programme of social progress, opponents of such a position have chosen to split the PArty by their actions of resignation. Why? This action can can only benefit the very people whey should be opposing: the Conservative government.

As the recent referendum has shown, Divide and Rule is a long-tried Tory policy and it is still working for them.

A. Delahoy, Silverknowes Gardens

Letter: Righting Wrongs

Dear Editor

When people feel strongly about an issue and voice it very clearly, it stands a good chance of changing that issue. There have been a number of recent examples of this happening: cutting disability income, attempting to take schools away from local authorities, etc.

The main lesson learned is that issues need widespread support to necessary changes, issues that affect most people.

Potentially the most unifying issues are the electric, gas and water supply industries and the prices the utility companies charge. Everyone is dependent on these services, these supplies are absolutely essential to all, yet these industries are in private ownership whose main aim is to maximise profits.

It cannot be right that something so essential to everyone is run on that basis, when people are struggling to pay their bills. There can be no argument or reason against making these industries publicly owned and managed. They are as essential to everyone as the NHS.

This is an issue around which maximum unity can be built: righting this wrong is possible.

A. Delahoy, Silverknowes Gardens