January 21 Letters: Trickle-down revealed as myth in land of wealth for a few

JONATHAN Riley is correct in saying “as an economy we need wealth”; what he fails to mention is that for a successful economy the wealth needs to be distributed reasonably evenly (The Yorkshire Post, January 17).

The current period of austerity gives lie to the Thatcherite myths of wealth creation and the trickle-down effect. Zero champagne lubricates the lives of zero-hours workers.

It is not the “politics of envy” that blackens the name of wealth; it is the behaviour of the wealthy. The bankers and financial service industries, whose scams wrecked the country’s finances, still pay themselves outlandish bonuses, in spite of huge fines imposed by the authorities. Golden parachutes and handshakes still seem to be the order of the day at the top of the tree. Wonga and pawnbrokers rule at its roots.

Businesses like City Link, that show no consideration for their workers and their customers, a rentier economy and an industrial scale of tax avoidance do not help to burnish its image either.

From: Terry Duncan, Bridlington, East Yorkshire.

APART from the demise of the NHS these past five years, surely the biggest blot on the Westminster administration is the shocking increase in food banks across the regions?

However, the Prime Minister keeps shouting through PMQs that unemployment has decreased and those in work have increased. Which category do these poor people come under?

From: Dr Glynn Powell, Bakersfield Drive, Kellington.

IN 2010, Chancellor George Osborne informed the nation that massive public service cuts and tight budgetary fiscal control would eliminate the deficit by 2015. Yet, three months prior to the general election, we find the financial deficit has barely fallen and public borrowing by the State is virtually the same as in 2010. Therefore, Osborne’s Tories, if elected, will stick blindly to policies that are destroying the nation.

Poverty will increase, food banks proliferating, as manufacturing industry continues its terminal decline.

What is required is rapid promotion of manufacturing to create meaningful, well paid employment, control of immigration by withdrawing from the EU and the non-replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system, thus saving billions.