The Herald has reported sobering news for those with an abiding interest in the wellbeing of Scotland and those who live here.
First you reported that, according to research, Scotland's private sector economy contracted for the first time in 20 months in September ("Shrinking private sector prompts recovery fears", October 8). There are some, in and outside the political world, who need to be reminded from time to time that it is the private sector that provides the wherewithal to make the wheels go round in the public sector.
Secondly, it was reported that only 12% of people in Scotland are net contributors, where taxes paid are less than the total of benefits extracted from the funds made available by the taxpayer ("Davidson says only one in eight Scots contributes", October 9). There has been much questioning of the robustness of such a figure and the basis upon which it was calculated. What is undeniable is that in Scotland we have reached the position where the public sector, in terms of actual employees and jobs supported by private finance, has become over-sized as it absorbs 50% of GDP.
Thirdly, and turning to cultural and artistic matters (under the Scottish Government control, at least in organisational terms), we have had the unedifying spectacle reported by you on October 9 ("All-out attack on Creative Scotland"). We have been faced with 100 leading artists assailing in no uncertain terms the work of Creative Scotland, the Scottish Government's art funding body. No doubt there are two sides to every dispute. However, proceedings conducted in this way do nothing but harm to the image of Scotland.
Is it likely that independence post-2014 will improve the situation at present, with all the difficult and diverse problems facing Scotland? If the results of the TNS-BMRB opinion poll are to be believed then 53% of the electorate think not ("Independence blow as support for Union soars", The Herald, October 8). That percentage has been rising and I believe the trend is unlikely to be reversed in any significant way by events such as the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and celebrations of the Battle of Bannockburn.
Ian W Thomson,
38 Kirkintilloch Road, Lenzie.
Richard Mowbray asks what right the state has to raise revenue from its citizens through taxation (Letters, October 9). The answer is none. Governments seek and acquire the consent of their citizens to do so, through the process known as politics. In this system, some believe all wealth is atomised and personal; others among us believe there is such a thing as society, whereby all of our fortunes are interlinked and interdependent, and it is part of a modern civilisation for governments to ensure all citizens benefit from prosperity generated within the state. This is called social democracy – the clue is in the name.
At the same time it is also clear that citizens will not and should not be forced to put up with the abuse of this privilege, including through directing revenues where they are not needed. For example, it needs to be considered whether taxation should be used to pay the whole cost of fees of middle-class university students studying subjects such as art history, while working class students learning useful trades such as electrical engineering or motor mechanics must pay their own fees at further education colleges.
This is where the current debate concerning the future of services in Scotland began with Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont's timely and courageous speech ("Lamont takes gamble on ditching SNP 'giveaways'", The Herald, September 26). Moreover, the recent intervention of Robert Black, the former auditor general for Scotland, is a game changer, leaving the SNP Government isolated as the only party in Scotland in denial of the need to pursue this discussion ("Heavyweight backing for Labour's look at giveaways", The Herald, October 6).
Peter A Russell,
87 Munro Road, Glasgow.
Much recent correspondence questions governmental response (or perceived lack thereof) to the ongoing economic turmoil. Financial turmoil in Europe and the United States is a collection of essays by respected financier and scholar of economics George Soros, explaining the warning signs which went unheeded, and postulating possible pan-European remedies for the current difficulties. With no plan B, and no apparent rescue plan beyond short-term bailouts, perhaps those in charge of decision making could invite Mr Soros to provide some input?
Alex McKechan,
8 Winton Circus, Saltcoats.
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