THERE is a case for a No Deal Brexit based on democracy alone. Merely observing how the Spitzenkandidat process to choose the president of the European Commission has uncoiled in the past 10 days makes all too clear what an undemocratic bureaucratic nightmare the EU really is. We need only consider the President of the European Commission (currently, Jean-Claude Juncker), a position which comes with a salary in the region of €300,000 and perks, and a staff of more than 30,000. Amazingly, this post is not directly elected. Only when the candidate has the support of a large majority of EU leaders is his or her name put before the EU Parliament. Do people know, for example, that Manfred Weber, the candidate whose party won the most seats in the recent European elections, has been discounted for lack of charisma and experience?
The European model has only a facade of democracy kept in check by divided powers and a self-selecting political class. It is a constitutional framework drafted by a clique of highly focussed politicians who did not trust their own populations. By contrast, in the British system the government is formed from MPs who are elected directly by the people, and in which Parliament is sovereign and the voters know who is in charge and the limits of their power.
Doug Clark, Currie.
Educate children with their friends
OVER the years I have mainly been in agreement with David J Crawford's views on and proposed solutions to Society's social problems. However his latest letter (July 2) truly disappoints me. Not the fact that he spent £250,000 on each of his children by way of private education, but his admission that it was to elevate his offspring to a more privileged social circle.
Surely it is preferable for children to progress from nursery schooling through their entire education with friends rather than be thrust into a perceived new educational world. It does seem Mr Crawford has realised the error of his judgement especially from a financial standpoint.
Allan C Steele, Giffnock.
Classic loss
I NOTE that Dr John MacInnes obtained Highers in Latin and Ancient Greek at school on Skye (Herald Obituary, June 28). Neither Higher is available on Skye now. I consider it highly improbable that Dr MacInnes would consider a basic grounding in Classics as irrelevant to his subsequent successful academic career;. Unfortunately he is no longer alive to be asked his opinion about the demise of Classics in Scottish education. Modern languages are ailing. Perhaps someone who knew Dr MacInnes well can offer anecdote about his opinion concerning demise of Classics and compromise of modern languages in Scottish education.
William Durward, Bearsden.
Out of tune?
LEN McCluskey claims that Jeremy Corbyn is as fit as a fiddle ("Demand for inquiry over claims on ‘too frail’ Corbyn", the Herald, July 1). He’s certainly no Stradivarius.
Michael Watson, Glasgow G73.
Storm warning
THE recent letters about the rapper Stormzy (July 1&2) remind me so much of comments in the early 1960s of what we then called the narrow-minded older generation, or was it fuddy-duddies, when parents shook their ends and muttered when the Beatles and "those" Rolling Stones hit the headlines or came on TV. A parent who tried to understand and take part could be excruciatingly embarrassing. Best policy: keep schtum, keep your own counsel, and try and figure it out. Hope for a Stormzy CD with lyrics for Christmas.
John Marshall,
Auchtermuchty, aka Planet Zog.
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