It is disgusting that the UK Government cares so little about deaths

In Westminster we have a government interested only in figures – particularly those that affect them – and which knows nothing of real people and everyday life. To these people, this disastrous pandemic is nothing more than an attack on the economy, which threatens to damage their privileged life. Their thinking must go something like this:

Hey, this virus is making a mess of China. Bad for us trying to increase trade with them, but we’ll be OK, we’re British. Saw the enemy off in two wars, didn’t we? Oh dear, looks like Italy’s a goner too, so let’s distract the plebs. Ah, that’s it! Boris, better get engaged to your live-in woman and then announce her pregnancy, that will distract them for a bit while we check what we might need to do to protect our money – and the economy generally, of course. So off you go and take a nice break while we work it out.

READ MORE: I’m appalled at being told a UK death toll of 20,000 is acceptable

Oh dear, seems these rotten foreigners are even exporting their bugs now! Better see what we need to do, can’t let Joe Public think we don’t care about him. Not enough ventilators? Tell them we have it in hand and see if any of our wealthy business pals could do something about it – no rush, it’s only the old, poor and vulnerable that will catch this thing. Might benefit the economy later, fewer scroungers claiming benefit and oldies living on generous state pensions. And if it’s only a few thousand who die, that’s just X% of the population – not really a big enough hit to worry about.

Think of the savings, it’s a price worth paying. Just let’s toss them a few goodies – not too generous, mind – and make them difficult to access.

Depressing myself even more just considering the mindset of these charlatans, so, readers, just make up the rest for yourselves. Or perhaps you couldn’t even make it up!

P Davidson
Falkirk

I REPLY to Jim Cassidy’s letter from yesterday’s paper attacking The National for an article related to the Alex Salmond case that was published the previous day.

To state that a newspaper should not have published an article related to views that went against the beliefs of a person or a group is absurd. This is what Mr Cassidy is complaining about. He is not happy with one article. A newspaper can print anything it likes as long as it is within the law and does not incite poor behaviour. A good newspaper should also allow alternate views.

Mr Cassidy’s letter implies you, The National, are not free editorially from the Herald. There is no evidence of this historically in The National, as I have read every copy ever published.

I need only look at the other newspapers published daily to see real anti-Scottish and anti-independence articles that are lies or part lies, many real distortions of the truth. The National is not one of these. It does not, for instance, attack in the same way pathetic way supporters of the Union but does report on Unionist actions with balanced comment. The National is not vitriolic against non-independence supporters, which is admirable.

If only all newspapers were like this then the independence cause may have higher levels of support by now. The National has no need to apologise for this one article. If it did it might lose more customers than Mr Cassidy’s letter implies.

Robert Anderson
Dunning, Perthshire

IN an attempt to stay cheery in these challenging times I have decided to live by the mantra “don’t get mad, get even”.

Following Project Fear (the original) I significantly changed my shopping habits and I know many others did too. Many major retailers who were identified as participants in Project Fear lost my custom completely and for others only a very rare purchase have I made from them, six years on. My only power of protest was were I chose to spend my money and I have tried to use it.

Now that we are living through Project Fear 3 (Armageddon) it seems astonishing that a new cohort of targets is itching to be identified. We all know who they are by now, but really, did they think no-one would notice? Do they think we won’t care?

If they haven’t already sussed it, they should know an apology won’t cut it and an “admin error” won’t cover it.

Their ruthless dispatch of their workforces to protect their obscene personal wealth will not be forgotten or forgiven.

So, to paraphrase the words of our national bard – I’m going to keep my wrath plenty warm.

If you are on the list you won’t see me coming ... because, literally, I’ll be taking my business to your competitors.

Iona Easton
Glasgow

IN the late 19th century and last century, we have had Marxism, Leninism, Marxist-Leninism, Trotskyism, Gramsci, Marxist-Feminism, communism, socialism and Stalinism. Yet it takes an invisible virus to bring capitalism to it’s knees. At what cost?

Was Marx wrong when he wrote that the history of the world was the history of class conflict?

WJ Graham
East Kilbride

JUST a wee thought about some of the coverage Johnson et al and their Covid19 infections. Some of the criticism is bordering on victim-blaming. Whoever contracts a disease requires sympathy, no matter how reviled the person is, whether the illness is serious or mild.

Would you blame a loved one for their illness? This schadenfreude should be beneath us. Victim-blaming, we know, is part of the normal Tory play-book. We are better than that.

Peter Barjonas
Latheronwheel

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