If our economy requires people to consume items they neither need nor want and to do more of that each year than the previous year just in order to prevent the whole edifice from collapsing then you need a different economy.
The history of eastern Europe proves that while socialism achieves equality it is the equality of the poor house. Equally unfettered capitalism has utterly failed as although it has enjoyed a longer period of time it has totally failed to eradicate poverty and inequality.
To a large extent one’s station in life is to a large degree determined by one’s circumstances of birth. If you are unfortunate enough to be a born to a single mother who is a drug addict or an alcoholic father then unfortunately the odds are stacked against you.
This is unsurprising. Capitalism produces ecological crisis precisely for the same reason it produces inequality because the basic tenet of capitalist growth is, in order for it to thrive, it has to extract more from labour and the environment than it contributes. Economic growth accompanied by worsening social outcomes is not success, it is failure.
It is abundantly clear we urgently need to broaden our definition of success from just economic/financial to a broader vision encompassing one that protects and regenerates the environment and achieves public physical, mental and emotional health. We can’t expect infinite growth from a planet that has finite resources otherwise what is our destination?
Fortunately, we don’t need to reinvent the wheel as a template already exists. Every year with monotonous regularity the same countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Iceland) top the happiness index. While not a utopia they appear to have blended the best aspects of both capitalism and socialism so that while entrepreneurs are encouraged there is a valuable safety net to shield the most vulnerable.
Every child has an equal chance of reaching third-level education and the old have the confidence that they will receive dignified care should it be required. Yes taxes are higher but there is minimal tax avoidance and evasion for several reasons. Firstly, they have bought into and trust the system because again there is minimal corruption and they recognise that their taxes are an investment in their country and ultimately themselves People in these countries take more holidays, work less hours yet are among the most productive in the world.
Is it time to re-evaluate?
GEORGE O’BOYLE
South Molton, Devon
Students should not be overcharged for services they are not receiving
Workers’ Party Youth has called for a reduction in third-level fees, citing the added financial pressure facing working-class families brought on by Covid-19.
Leaving aside for the moment the fact third-level fees for education are totally unacceptable and discriminates against working-class people having access to a university education. As a result of Covid-19, students are likely to face a number of challenges in the 2020/21 academic year. Blended learning, a mix of in-person and online education, will leave students at a considerable disadvantage in many regards. Essentially, students aren’t getting value for their money.
To name but a few issues that students may face, they will not be able to utilise college facilities to their full advantage, they will not have the same level of interaction with staff, they may be forced to pay for accommodation that they wouldn’t otherwise if the course was fully online, and they will have to pay for computers, electricity, gas and internet that would be otherwise provided. Rural-based students could suffer in particular with regards to internet access.
These issues, in a normal academic year, would not be as prominent as they would all be covered by fees paid to colleges annually.
However, despite this lack of coverage, students are still expected to pay for these services.
Workers’ Party Youth are petitioning the minister for higher education in the south Simon Harris, as well as Northern Ireland minister for education Peter Weir, to step in and ensure that students are not overcharged for services and facilities that they are not receiving.
EOGHAN GARDINER
Workers’ Party Youth
Finaghy furore
Regardless egardless of the furore on social media, Wednesday’s Nolan Show (October 6) surely reached its nadir. Following his Finaghy foray to accost members of the public for failing to wear a mask, Mr Nolan appeared on television to attempt to justify an action which might well have caused a breach of the peace. The entire country is already aware that everyone should be wearing a mask and those who refuse to do so are not going to be cajoled by a self-seeking host from the BBC.
WILSON BURGESS
Derry City
Secure salaries
I wonder if the doctors, politicians, mayors, governors and country leaders around the world who make the decisions to lock down cities, counties and countries that have destroyed numerous livelihoods, would be so quick to come to their decision if their secure salaries were threatened?
DR OWEN GALLAGHER
Glenavy, Co Antrim
Perverse situation
The Stormont imposed Covid-19 policy constraints on population mobility and their resulting economic hardships, especially in relation to employment, have been catastrophic for many.
In the light of this, is it not indeed a perverse situation that the 90 MLAs who did little or no legislative work for three years and felt hardly any financial pain regarding their pensions or salaries, now blithely enforce laws which actively deprive many of their fellow citizens of their livelihoods?
G CORR
Greyabbey, Co Down
We should learn from history
Patrick Murphy (September 19) said Boris Johnson wasn’t the first to break treaties which I found interesting.
He stated that de Valera reneged on several parts of the 1921 Anglo-Treaty. Included in these is that he terminated Ireland’s dominion status with the Commonwealth. Does he mean that de Valera took Ireland out of the Commonwealth? If so, what year did this happen.
I agree with his point about history that we should not just learn it, we should learn from it.
SEAN O’LOUGHLIN
Belleek, Co Fermanagh
