I AGREE with Catriona Clark’s concerns about the inexorable march of the machines affecting social interaction and people’s jobs and livelihoods (Letters, The National, November 28). Automation is being pursued relentlessly, especially by the predatory tax-avoiding, American-owned multinationals seeking ever higher profits, the only outcome that matters to them and from which few people benefit.
However, difficult questions are raised. For instance, millions of workers’ jobs on the land have been taken over by machines, but could the tractor and combine harvester be replaced by horses now? On the other hand, how many of us really trust automatic teller machines or driverless taxis?
As there is no realistic prospect of halting mechanisation, which has been happening for centuries, perhaps it’s time to think about alternatives. As more and more occupations are superseded by machines, the benefits of a universal basic income become more attractive and indeed necessary.
A real living UBI would not only relieve people from the stress of poverty and chasing the few minimum-wage jobs, it would also allow some people to create the social interactions which the multinationals are eliminating.
But do not look to Westminster to introduce any socially beneficial policies – for the Tory millionaires society does not exist. Tackling tax avoidance and evasion which would solve most of today’s problems, from health to housing, is given lip service only. But an independent government in an independent and more humane Scotland could make a difference. It’s up to us.
Richard Walthew
Duns
WITH reference to the letter in yesterday’s National from an anonymous writer (Letters, November 28), informing us that the Union flag displayed by armed police officers is sold by the charity UK Cop Humour.
The anonymous writer is incorrect when he states that the Union flag Velcro patch is from the police charity COPS. COPS has indeed got a Union flag of the type suggested by the anonymous writer. Indeed, COPS merchandise is on sale on the UK Cop Humour website and can be viewed by all. However, if the anonymous writer cares to view the Police Firearms Officers Association website he will see that they offer woollen hats with the PFOA initials on the Union flag and jerseys and Velcro patches displaying the Union flag.
The merchandise, although similar, is different and of course from different police charities. I was informed by a senior police officer who visited my home, that Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins had personally permitted firearms officers to wear the PFOA Union flag. When I asked this senior officer why the insignia from the list of other police charities that I supplied was not permitted to be worn he replied “that’s different”.
I have supported police charities for many years, however I now have no doubt that displaying the Union flag on a police uniform is a deliberate political act. Why does Police Scotland allow a Union flag to be displayed prominently on an officer’s uniform? The anonymous writer states that “this has nothing to do with branding things British rather than Scottish”. If he/she will forgive me, that’s what Asda, Marks, Tesco, Sainsbury and the BBC say.
Gordon C Ford
Newton Mearns
JUST a clarification for Richard Leonard, who appears to have difficulty understanding why Labour and the Better Together side “seemed” to be on the side of negativity and fear. The reason you were on this side is because that was your whole campaign (Richard Leonard tells Labour to pinch indy movement’s message of hope. The National, Tuesday November 28). Better Together lied – with the support of the BBC and the mainstream media – about just about everything. And as for fear, it was Mr Leonard’s members who went round the doors frightening pensioners, telling them that they wouldn’t get their pension if they voted Yes.
It’s a bit much for the gaffe-prone new leader of the Scottish Labour branch that he’s already stealing SNP policies and calling for the nationalisation of Scottish Water – when it’s never been in private hands – but now to pretend he doesn’t know that his members were lying and frightening vulnerable people to vote No really takes the biscuit.
You have to wonder if Mr Leonard has been asleep for the past few decades. Maybe that would explain why when he was political officer for the GMB that they sold out female workers in councils like Glasgow regarding equal pay?
Councillor Kenny MacLaren
Paisley
THERE is not much hope that the Labour leopard will change its spots to save Richard Leonard’s hide in Scotland. Jeremy Corbyn, proudly standing by his side yesterday, last week joined with the Tories and ordered his Labour front bench through the Westminster lobby to vote down an amendment to the Repeal Bill from Scottish Labour MP Ian Murray.
John Jamieson
South Queensferry
REGARDING your story (Hoey: Irish Republic can foot the bill for border, The National, November 28), the answer to a physical problem must lie in physics, and is both easy and cheap. We need a Schrodinger’s border, present and absent simultaneously. The only doubt would be whether it lay above or below a Heisenberg cut, to determine whether or not it existed.
Dr D Bell
Dalry
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