Symptoms of a social and moral malaise

From: TW Coxon, West Auckland Road, Darlington.

DR Nader Fekri is rightly concerned about child poverty (Yorkshire Post, September 12), but his anger should be directed towards the people who truly were responsible for the financial mess we are in today. Yes, the last Labour governments.

Perhaps he should also mention in his wrath, the parents, who despite their “poverty” still afford to buy cigarettes and alcohol. It is staggering to also see, as I do, the numbers of young people drifting around town centres and school precincts, with cigarettes dangling from their mouths whilst going without food.

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The good doctor might also have made reference to Nicholas Soames’ speech, and the subsequent report of it, in an abridged form (Yorkshire Post, September 10).

The cost of the vast number of foreign immigrants to this country beggars belief. The cost could well have been directed towards more deserving causes, like child poverty. Surely, this is something worthy of consideration?

Lack of 
moral fibre

From: D Wood, Thorntree Lane, Goole.

THE recent Cabinet reshuffle clearly shows the almost total lack of moral fibre of the two clueless coalition leaders David Cameron and Nick Clegg, or should that be Clegg and Cameron?

Clegg’s insistence of, and Cameron’s ready acceptance of, the return of multi-millionaire David Laws who misappropriated (most people would say stole) £40,000 of taxpayers’ cash to give to his partner is a classic example of the total contempt with which these people hold the electorate and taxpayers of this country.

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Instead of reforming the House of Lords, it is the House of Commons that is in urgent need of reform. A starting point would be an immediate lifetime ban from being an MP or Lord for anyone found to have cheated on their expenses.

How society pays the price

From: Kendal Wilson, Wharfebank Terrace, Tadcaster.

the continual emphasis upon the woes of the educational system of this country is detracting from the fact that beyond this there is precious little in the way of scaffolding for youngsters to climb once they have left school.

There is a continuum of experts almost drilling into young people that they are not to a required standard by a certain age. The expectations of the children themselves are often high in a material sense, with pressure from the visual internet and peer groups.

We also have another stark fact: that we live in a multi-ethnic country and resources are scarce, employment for a living wage is hard to find and the number of humans is only likely to increase. We have created a world where humans cannot cope with an ever-growing crowded complexity of conundrums that, bar a world war, will become too difficult to manage!

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There must be a strong case for looking at outcomes in a mere humanist, simplistic way, one with cohesive costings related to realistic living standards that do not or should not equate to property cost. Look at the infrastructure of the regions. Leeds should not have the costings of London, although York tries to be Little London with obscene property prices!

‘Jobsworth’ shares blame

From: Steve Waldenberg, Evesham Croft, Bridlington.

YOU report that the man who raped a 23-year-old who was thrown off a late night bus for the lack of 20 pence was given a lengthy jail sentence (Yorkshire Post, September 13).

This is right enough and the judge and prosecuting counsel were correct in their assessment of this terrible man.

However, I feel that the 
bus driver, who refused to 
permit the young woman on 
to his bus for the want of 20 pence, should also be brought to justice.

How could he act in this way in the early hours?

It is scandalous that these “jobsworths” are allowed to get away with their actions.