Why should I have to pay for the recession?

I AM going to vote in favour of strike action over Government plans to make me work longer, pay more and all for a worse pension deal.

I’ve heard people say that I am lucky to get a pension at all, but I have saved for many years for my retirement.

If I didn’t get a pension I would have to join the millions of other people who haven’t put money aside an d start claiming benefits.

As a legal officer, I don’t take strike action lightly, but the Government is simply raiding my pension scheme to help pay off the deficit.

I did nothing to cause the recession, why should I be made to pay for it?

Inhabitants of the real world

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

THERE are many anti-capitalist and anti-Government demonstrations going on all around the world right now.

Sadly the majority of people cannot seem to understand nor accept that we have been living in a fanciful totally unrealistic world since about 1960.

People appear to believe that it is possible to get a pint out of a half pint glass, and that it is all right to spend money that they do not have.

The vast majority of the world’s leaders will not tell their peoples the truth, mainly because at some time, near or far, they are wanting votes to remain in power, so the lies and deceit continue.

People must be told that for most of us, things are going to change for the worse.

The capitalist system is not perfect, and the very rich and the bankers are getting off scot-free, it is wrong and awful, but it is what is happening.

Communism did not work, and perhaps the only other policy that might work is the Buddhist philosophy, but it would be a hard-sell.

Food that kills children

From: Marc DuBois, General Director, Médecins Sans Frontières (UK), Saffron Hill, London.

MILLIONS of children are dying before they reach the age of five because they are getting the wrong type of food. And the tragedy is that this will continue until bodies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Commission take action to stop it.

There are 195 million malnourished children throughout the world, but most of those who receive help through the global food aid system are receiving substandard food such as fortified flour which does not include the vital nutrients and proteins that young children need while growing.

Both the WHO and the EC acknowledged this several months ago, but have put off issuing firm guidelines to stop it.

While children continue to die unnecessarily, the EC is actually continuing to hand out money for the distribution of substandard food.

Is this really the right way to spend taxpayers’ money?

We must look beyond frontiers

From: Don Burslam, Elm Road, Dewsbury Moor, Dewsbury.

YOUR paper has given generous coverage to the opinions of the Eurosceptics over the years.

The typical mindset of the authors has become clear. It is characterised by a foolish optimism without any regard to the historical context.

Their approach is one dimensional in its superficiality because it does not take into account the failure of conventional diplomacy based on the nation state.

History surely shows that attempts to achieve lasting peace and security for the continent have proved futile. This was typified by the fiasco of the League of Nations based on the idea that member states would be willing to subordinate national interests to the greater good.

It is obvious in retrospect that the formation of a supranational institution was inevitable sooner or later.

The idea that after 40 years we can up sticks and leave is so naive that nothing further need be said.

Like it or not, we live in an age when national interests extend far beyond frontiers and a formalised overall direction of affairs is appropriate.

These powers are not in fact limitless though to hear the antis talk, we are living in a Stalinist type dictatorship.

Christian fight for freedom

From: Norman Armistead, Green Park Avenue, Cayton, Scarborough

I was most encouraged by Bill Carmichael’s article (Yorkshire Post, October 14) regarding the Archbishop of Canterbury’s visit to Zimbabwe and his meeting with Robert Mugabe.

His comments concerning Christians in many parts of the world who are suffering persecution for their faith are deeply disturbing.

There is an urgent need for positive actions from the West on behalf of these forgotten people. Courageous leaders like the Archbishop are needed to speak on their behalf.

The continued prayerful support of Christians and action from influential people around the world is needed in this case and in other cases where people are being deprived of their basic human rights and freedom of worship.