MONDAY'S Herald offers some fascinating views on our current situation.

Len McCluskey of the Unite union claims that his members have a duty to protest against the Government's austerity programme – even if this means a general strike ("Union in call for austerity protests", The Herald, January 14). Your Letters Pages offer the view from Hugh Andrew that Government claims that expenditure is being cut are, in fact, false and produces figures which support this view.Also from your correspondents, Allan C. Steele suggests that many citizens have become disenchanted by "elected persons who seem more intent on securing their own futures than looking after the interests of those they purport to serve".

Perhaps there are lessons to be learned from these views?

John Maxwell,

10 Beechwood Court,

Bearsden.