Thursday's Letters: Are we throwing good money after bad in Irish bailout?

I READILY appreciate the reasoning behind the Chancellor's decision to contribute up to £7bn to the rescue of the crumbling Irish economy. But will he be throwing good money after bad?

According to reports, life in Dublin and throughout the Republic goes on much as before. Pre-Christmas trading is reasonably good, city centre pubs and nightclubs are busy and restaurants in the posher suburbs are turning customers away. Recently, permission was given for the construction of a multi-million casino in County Tipperary incorporating a five star hotel, parking for 8,000 cars and, of course, a helipad.

Ireland deserves a chance to revive its economy upon the foundations of principle, prudence and probity. However, I feel that most of the Irish will simply shrug their shoulders and, metaphorically, fiddle while Rome burns.

From: Clive Flynn, Wade House Road, Shelf, Halifax.

From: Peter R Hyde, Kendale View, Driffield, East Yorkshire

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I MAY be a bit naive, but I always thought that, when you are in debt up to your eyeballs, it is foolish to lend money to others who are also in debt. Yet that is exactly what this foolish coalition is proposing to do (Yorkshire Post, November 22).

Ireland may well be a friend, although I haven't actually noticed many friendly acts they have made towards us, but I certainly would not keep myself in deep debt, no matter how friendly I was, by lending to others.

We not only lend money to the greedy bankers of England, Scotland and Ireland but we throw it at any country who asks for it. Ireland is taking we fools for a ride and we are being led by fools who allow them so to do.

From: David W Wright, Uppleby, Easingwold.

BOB Wright (Yorkshire Post, November 22) is so right to expose the ludicrous situation of our membership of the EU which is now highlighted by the latest financial chaos surrounding Ireland, Greece and other countries on the brink of Euromania meltdown.

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We now talk of millions and billions, whether it be pounds or euros and one has to wonder where this Mickey Mouse scenario will take us all.

Perhaps some entrepreneur will produce a new game to follow Monopoly to be called Europoly so we can all enjoy Christmas playing money games just like the EU politicians and our own variety who are equally adept at handing over billions of pounds to all and sundry even though the UK is in dire financial straits, witness our coalition Government which is proposing to hand over 7bn to Ireland – where is this money coming from? We must be crazy.

Don't forget the blunders by Brown

From: Gordon Lawrence, Stumperlowe View, Sheffield.

I THINK Hugo Radice from the University of Leeds is on a futile quest (Yorkshire Post, November 10) when he attempts to cleanse Labour's role in the perturbing situation that confronts the UK economy.

While international co-operation is essential in the avoidance of a variety of beggar-thy-neighbour protectionist measures Mr Radice exaggerates the importance of Brown's contribution to the world stage; Cameron, himself, repeats the same mantras to the same deaf ears; most countries are determined to protect their own immediate well-being regardless of the long-term consequences.

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The columnist disagrees with the probability of a collapse in the bond markets as a result of the huge deficit left by Labour because the UK bond market has since performed reasonably well. He omits the fact that confidence in George Osborne's determination to act on the deficit without delay has helped boost the sale of bonds.

Furthermore, the massive purchase of Government stock through the Bank of England's quantitative easing has further lowered yields. And in sharp contrast to Gordon Brown's procrastinations, the all-important international credit agencies have likewise been impressed by Osborne's approach.

The university research fellow, in his efforts to protect Labour, accuses the coalition of ideological motives in reducing the public sector.

What he doesn't say is the previous government's massive expansion of that sector both on ideological grounds and electoral opportunism.

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There's no mention of mammoth spending and the creation of a bloated bureaucracy. The wastefulness of most of that expenditure was the complete antithesis to the initial frugality of Chancellor Brown before his socialistic instincts overcame his prudence and common sense.

But Hugo Radice is right to be worried about inequalities of burden regarding the cuts, but cuts, whatever the timing have to be made. Surely, though, he must approve of Iain Duncan Smith's pursuit of fairness in his radical shake-up of the welfare system in wanting low wage earners to be better off than those able-bodied who have the option of work but choose to languish at home – a measure that should significantly reduce the number that are embedded in the insidious benefit culture leaving, in the end, most people better off.

Unfortunately, using the higher earners as milk cows, as Mr Radice tacitly prescribes, is another radical non-starter, for those particular cows have the guile and means to move to farms with an unpromising future.

Hugo Radice believes that to implement cuts now is too much of a gamble and too dependent upon favourable global conditions. Most mainstream economists and businessmen, however foresee speedy fiscal tightening as a must in order to gain an advantage in a decidedly hostile world.

Our police are fettered

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From: Keith Wigglesworth, Mead Way, Highburton, Huddersfield.

I READ with interest the article (Yorkshire Post, November 22) on the death penalty by MP Jeremy Browne, but must comment on his statement: "If you choose to violate the rights and freedoms of those around you, you forfeit your own."

Fine words that no "right minded" person would disagree with, but we all know that this simply does not happen. The rights and freedoms of the miscreants always seem to be highlighted by the "liberals" among us, while those of the victims are consistently ignored. A situation that should not be allowed to continue.

I am constantly amazed at the level of abuse thrown at the police during the screening of the many "real time" policing programmes shown on TV. I am even more amazed at the tolerance shown by the police to this abuse and thoroughly disgusted by the low levels of punishment dealt out to these abusers. The perpetrators show no respect whatsoever for authority and appear unrepentant even when apprehended. Strong action, not grandiose words, must be taken to retake our city centres from the mindless drunks who rampage throughout the weekends.

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Our police are fettered by human rights legislation, while the feral drunks keep decent humans from venturing into many of our city centres at weekends. This should be addressed as a high priority.

Fortunately, it seems that these mindless morons are in the minority as evidenced by the vast numbers of young people turning out for the London Marathon, the Great North Run, the Jane Tomlinson Runs and so on.

These people go a long way to alleviate the harm caused by the minority and should be applauded for their actions. However, a rotten apple in a barrel spreads unless it is removed.

Don't knock the 1960s, they were good times

From: Paul Andrews, The Beeches, Great Habton, York.

IF there was a lot wrong with the 1960s, we were certainly not spoilt (Richard Heller, Yorkshire Post, November 20).

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My memories of 1960s students is of eking out our meagre grants by working on building sites or holiday camps during the summer vacation, and in the local postal sorting office over Christmas. Borrowing money was almost unknown, and I never knew any student who claimed benefits.

Unemployment was low, but standards were high, and one had to work hard at O and A-levels, as there was fierce competition for university places. There were apprenticeships for trades, and these too had a very high standard.

We came from schools with ample playing fields, and were keen on competitive and adventure sports in the great outdoors. Obesity was not a problem.

TV was an attraction, as it is now, but colour only arrived at the end of the '60s, and the programmes were better than they are now. There was less compulsive watching. Girls still made their own clothes, including their wedding dresses, and people made their own entertainment. At one time, there were more than 50 dance bands on Merseyside alone.

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We wanted social justice for all. We were idealist – largely Left-wing and pacifist, but idealists all the same.

Where did we go wrong? We were naive. Advances in science and technology, the space race, the pill, the dismantling of empire and Marxist propaganda made us challenge everything that was conventional.

We worshipped youth and new ideas and rejected the wisdom of experience. In challenging convention, there was a tendency to throw out the baby with the bathwater.

This laid us wide open to exploitation by all kinds of con-men, charlatans, whizz kids and crooks, and led to gimmickry in politics, experimentation with drugs, and an addiction to change for the sake of change in politics, law, government and business.

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This is only part of the legacy of the 1960s. I look back to the '60s with affection. It was a great time to be young, and the decade has gone down in history as "the good times". Richard Heller, please don't knock it!

Maths adds up in future life

From: Fiona Lemmon, Clifton Byres, Clifton, Maltby, Rotherham.

I FULLY agree with Jayne Dowle's opinion (Yorkshire Post, November 22) that teaching mathematics should focus on the skills needed for practical, everyday life.

I did not enjoy maths at school but was fortunate to gain what was then O-level mathematics at the tender age of 14. Most of the content has proven to be useless to me ever since. I have been able to use my knowledge of percentages – even, on rare occasions, fractions.

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Being able to measure up and work out square metres enables me to know what size tin of paint I need for DIY tasks.

As Jayne says, being able to handle cash is essential as are budgeting and understanding interest rates. I welcome partnership work in schools using the expertise of banking personnel.

Church faults

From: NV Elliott, Church Street, South Cave.

I FIND it extremely unfortunate that the only pronouncement of note that a Bishop of the Church of England can make is to castigate the Royalty to whom he has sworn allegiance. Not only do I find it offensive, but the phrase "cast the first stone" comes to mind.

The Church, and in particular those in "high places", have enough problems of their own; financial, manpower, dwindling adherents, defections to Rome and women bishops.

Time to look at ourselves and put our own house in order.

Still ship-shape

From: David Quarrie, Lynden Way, Holgate, York.

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THE Ark Royal is still a very fine ship with many years possible service within her (Yorkshire Post, November 23). I understand why we can no longer afford her, and as part of the defence cuts she has to go early, but why is she to be de-commisioned and scrapped?

Surely we could sell her to another maritime nation who would give us a reasonable amount of money for her?