RICHARD Mowbray's assertions (Letters, August 27) about the benefits of ruthless capitalism have been proven by history to be unfounded.

Successful societies actually take care of the weakest and avoid victimising the poor and the sick.

It is, however, his unfounded assertions about Alex Salmond I wish to address.

He was obviously watching a different debate to the one I saw if he thinks our elected First Minister's performance was full of "bile". Throughout this whole campaign I have been amazed by Alex Salmond's refusal to retaliate to the personal abuse that is heaped upon him. He has never tried to say that Better Together is a mere whim of Alistair Darling or to assert that the No campaign is all down to David Cameron's personal vanity.

I suppose it's too late now to hope that those of a Unionist persuasion will alter tack, but this stream of hate directed at one man disgusts me. Nothing could induce me to support their cause.

David C Purdie,

12 Mayburn Vale,

Loanhead.

I AM patronisingly accused by Richard Mowbray of anger, bitterness, resentment, envy, entitlement and Anglophobia. I suffer from none of these conditions!

I joined the SNP in 1976 because, regardless of which UK party was in power, many people in Scotland were in bad housing, jobless, unhealthy and poor. The UK is still not working for many in Scotland and the UK austerity programme will increase poverty. Food banks did not feature in 1976, but they do now - a sad reflection on our society.

I remain an optimist, and know that Scotland can create better lives for its inhabitants by voting Yes.

Colin Campbell,

Braeside, Shuttle Street, Kilbarchan.

It is a great pity that Richard Mowbray cannot present his economic arguments (which may have some merit) without descending to the level of spleen-filled invective which he finds so reprehensible in those who take a different view from him.

What I find so dispiriting in his and much of the other corres­pondence is the failure to deal with the central issue, which is the issue of sovereignty.

Is Scotland a country or is it a province of England (or more specifically a province of the south-east of England)? Are we in a Union or in a unitary state?

I have little doubt that we are not seen as a nation but as part of greater whole.

This referendum gives us the opportunity to take sovereign control of our own affairs and if mistakes are made they will be our mistakes. If there are challenges to be faced we will be responsible for addressing them, and if there are welfare and other policies to be determined we will deal with them ourselves.

I find that prospect exhilarating and, in a real sense, our entitlement.

The Rev David A Keddie,

21 Ilay Road, Bearsden.