Letters: January 13, 2017

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Accept majority vote

RE ADAM Pooles’ Letter – Questions On Brexit SA Thursday, January 5.

There can be no justification for taking Justin Tomlinson to task for upholding the legitimacy of the democratic process.

The electorate voted and the Government has chosen to act upon the electorate’s will.

The bulk of Mr. Poole’s letter contains his disagreements with the decision made. I can rant and rave and rail against the iniquities of the system as well as the next man, but in the end I have to accept the will of the ‘majority’ and so must he.

As for percentages; in all my 65 years voting life, I cannot recall any general election result where the successful party ever obtained 50 per cent of the vote.

They were all held under our democratic system and whether we liked the results or not they all stood. We can’t just pick and choose.

It is a nonsense to think of trying to de-legitimise any such vote. We have to accept the decision and make it work. You cannot blame Justin Tomlinson for doing the job he was elected to do.

As for referenda: They should not be used in decision making where complex matters of major national importance are concerned.

They are okay, if confined to minor black or white matters where a simple yes or a no will suffice; for example, ‘As from this day forth, should any British Government be allowed to call a referendum on any subject?’

No, they are elected to manage all matters on our behalf and should never, ever again be allowed to abdicate their responsibilities.

I’m afraid Mr. Poole, like me, you have been quite selective in your arguments, and quite wrong to lay any suggestion of blame at Justin’s door for the farrago.

It is not for him to have to explain whether a referendum is democratic or has legitimacy. It just does happen to enjoy both those characteristics.

I remain as ever, one of the growing ageing population, responsible for all the country’s economic ills, it seems.

ANDREW KERR

Ash Brake, Swindon

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Comments to you all

MAY I thank the Webb brothers, Martin and Mark, for their kind words. I have no doubt, both are genuine caring human beings, as the vast majority of us try to be.

To John Stooke, what an outstanding and informative letter. Articulate and detailed regarding the disgrace on all fronts of this council representing the common people, who pay their inflated pensions and salaries.

I am very proud to consider myself, and all of my family, as the hard working majority.

My point, sadly, is that the council may well get away with it due to public indifference, Or perhaps not, due to the power of your intellect and literal protest.As well as a free press,in this instance, the Advert, to mention one of the many .May I add as well, as your dedicated personal diligence regarding these matters.

To Jeff Adams, do me a favour, please, stop making a fool of yourself by your disgraceful and boring attacks on our Queen, who has more than 60 years service to our nation.

I have more to do with my time than verbally attack a 90-year-old woman, no matter her financial or world-renowned respect and status. Respect any woman, or man for their tenure in reaching that privilege of longevity in this uncertain life.

Let her end her long life dedicated to this nation in peace and respect.

You were born with life-time choices, that could have affected family and friends, her choices affected a nation and its stability in a turbulent world.

Lastly, please, if you have any sense of humour and I imagine you have, let your next letter put a smile on 50,000 faces, including at my expense. You will feel better for it, trust me.

By the way, here is a quote: “Like all the best families we have our share of eccentricities, of impetous youngsters and of family disagreements.” Guess who made it? The Queen.

BILL WILLIAMS

Merlin Way, Covingham, Swindon

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Sign up to save pupils

IN THE last few days children across Wiltshire have returned to school after the Christmas holidays but I’m still totally amazed what a low priority some local councillors and motorists put on road safety around schools.

Wiltshire Council is one of the few councils in the UK that refuses to put children first by introducing 20mph limits around its schools.

Already residents are signing our petition urging Wiltshire Council to put our children first by introducing 20mph limits.

It doesn’t have to be a full-time limit, just at start and finish time, it won’t slow everyone down, but if it slows a majority it would be a start. Hundreds of residents have already pledged their support, if you haven’t already signed our petition please follow the link and help us make Wiltshire roads around our schools a safer place for all: http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/20s-plenty-in-rural-wiltshire.

COUN TERRY CHIVERS

Whitley

Melksham

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Budgeting advice

IT’S January again and it’s that time of year that many hate as the bills for Christmas start to come in.

So now is the time to give your finances a total overhaul and set yourself up for the coming year.

The first thing to remember is that it is not how much money you have coming in that counts, it’s what you have going out.

As Mr Micawber in Charles Dickens’ novel David Copperfield would have said in 1854 annual income £20, annual expenditure £19 and six pence result happiness, annual income £20, annual expenditure £20 and six pence, result misery.

Everyone’s income is different but the solution is always the same, so sit the family down and solve it together.

The children need to understand money if they are to go out into the big wide world prepared.

You need two pieces of paper, on one you write down everything coming in, wages, dividends, allowances etc.

On the other you write down everything going out, rent, gas, food bills, car tax, holidays etc. Now total both pages and you will find an imbalance of money.

This is where it starts to get difficult and the whole family has to have a say. You have to start making cuts until the two pages match, a week’s holiday in a caravan instead of two weeks in an hotel, cut out monthly magazines and health clubs subs, change to own brands for food, buy fewer takeaways, and impulse buying of clothes, less make up for mum, less beer for dad, less pocket money for the children, fewer trips to the cinema etc.

Everyone in the family will have to make some sort of sacrifice but at the end of it you will all have a much better lifestyle without money worries all the year.

This is tough love but it works and you all agreed to keep to it so you have each other for support.

Happy New Year to you all and I hope it turns out a really good one for you.

R CARTWRIGHT

Pinnegar Way, Covingham, Swindon

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Paying tax is moral duty

EVERY adult knows the clear, rational distinction between murder and manslaughter, if evidence is given of premeditation. If I plan to murder one person, we all agree what should happen to me.

On the other hand, if I were a billionaire among many others similarly inclined, knowing as well as you, that the NHS depends totally on citizens’ taxes, such as death duties of about 40 per cent for wealthy folk, but I pay a huge sum to unscrupulous lawyers to devise a scheme for me to avoid paying a penny towards the NHS, can you recognise that the element of premeditation is proven in that?

Other wealthy citizens have been content to pay the 40 per cent as taxes to support the NHS, which would have amounted in my case, to £3.6bn on my estate of £9.2bn, leaving only £5.6bn for my heir.

Of course my heir could have had a sense of moral duty, to divert this £3.6bn to the honourable motive of saving lives, but he preferred to keep it as his possession and personal spending money.

All this has taken place in Britain recently, and the British population are so lost to any sense of moral ethics, that they accept the obvious consequences, quite predictable, that many premature babies who could have been saved by the hugely expensive equipment required all over the nation, will not survive, because of the lack of the £3.6bn which might have achieved that glorious target. Death is a premeditated consequence.

Of course, we should also blame the contemptible lawyers, and a completely unprincipled Government whose Treasury has the legal power to close off such loopholes as fast as they are created, making such lawyers unprofitable.

Convicts in prison have higher ethical standards than any of these highly respected people. Any

Patriotic citizens must strive to ensure Britain finds worthier values to show to the world.

CN WESTERMAN

Meadow Rise

Brynna, Mid Glam

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Risky roundabout

I AM writing in support of Steven Blanchard’s letter (SA Saturday January 7) regarding the accident waiting to happen at the new Greenbridge roundabout.

I have found it very confusing as to where we should stop to give way and see many other motorists in the same position, often creeping into the lane of oncoming traffic.

Can Swindon Borough Council (or whoever is responsible) please put some give way lines in - as the saying goes “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”!

BARBARA KIMBER

Covingham, Swindon