MANY of the anti-globalism demonstrators presently occupying St Paul’s precinct will be part of the problem against which they are demonstrating.
They will be in debt to the banks they are so upset with.
The banks in general persistently advertise facilities that encourage people to become debtors. The problem today is that people do not live within their means any more, prompted as they are by the banks who have become middlemen for our money.
At one time banks depended on savers. Now they depend on borrowers.
Once they paid a good interest rate on savings. Now they exploit borrowers.
The luxury kind of finance we see today has come about since the 1960s.
Up to this time banks were for businesses – a good idea, a good product, a good business venture would secure a loan from a bank.
And before the idiotic rush to turn the financially solid building societies into banks, property was secured on one salary or wage as mortgage!
Bank opening hours in 1960 were 10am to 3pm weekdays only, no Saturday opening, thus being out of reach of the working class who worked early morning to at least 5pm.
People had a wage packet from their employer and after retirement their pension from the Post Office. They were in charge of the little they drew and lived within their means, mainly.
In the 1960s this country was capable of building the first nuclear power station (Calder Hall), the first jet airliner (Comet) and many other innovations, along with the teething troubles involved, which pointed to a very sound industrial base.
At the same time we were capable of maintaining an army, navy and air force ... and our dignity. But since then this situation has either been destroyed or depleted by politicians of all parties by nationalisation, privatisation or plain ineptitude.
The loss of the building societies to mergers and banks was another catastrophe for the majority of us. The mad rush to eliminate the societies, one of our cherished national institutions that the working class relied on, was well planned by the bankers to maximise their profits and have a greater hold on us and our pittances.
One of the most distressing events was the privatisation of the National Giro bank to the building society/bank, Alliance and Leicester who, in turn, was off-shored to a Spanish bank.
And Spain is yet another country that seems to be in deep trouble with its Mickey Mouse Euro money. And yet again, Britain, which sensibly stayed out of the Euro, will be expected to aid Spain while our services to the people who foot the bill will be reduced or abolished altogether.
All this is the result of global economic growth at any cost, the cost being borne not by the banks but by us, the ordinary taxpayers.
LEN SANDFORD
Lepton
Jason dares to speak out
MR Murray (Mailbag, October 26) says that it is a ‘waste of time’ to hold a referendum on our membership or the EU and it is ridiculous to re-negotiate our terms of membership.
Over the past 25 years this shambolic organisation has cost British taxpayers over £65bn.
Meanwhile, we have seen everything in this country go downhill – our industry, farming and fisheries with endless rules and regulations to damage our economy. The people of this country should be given the opportunity to be heard.
Finally, well done Jason McCartney and other brave MPs for speaking for the people of this island.
BARRY FOWLER
Berry Brow
It’s pointless voting
WHAT is wrong with David Cameron? Has he lost the plot?
One minute he’s banging on about Libya and their freedom from a despot, the next he’s flatly refusing to let Great Britain regain its freedom from the stranglehold of the EU. I ask myself, why do we have a voting system at all? It appears to have become completely useless.
BRENDA HOLROYD
Netherthong
Our voice is ignored
LIKE him or not, Jason McCartney is ‘a rebel with a cause’ and seems proud of it. Quite clearly the EU is costing the British taxpayer a mint to remain part of what is now a complete shambles.
Nevertheless, this is a man who voted against the Government on student tuition fees and has now joined the calls for a UK referendum on continuing membership of the EU.
And, if my memory is correct, we the electorate were promised such during the General Election campaign by a certain David Cameron, champion of the ‘Big Society’ concept.
What a difference 16 months of political power makes, despite a recent poll where 68% of Brits wanted a yes/no referendum. Hence once again the British public is totally ignored by the politicians who voted them into power and thereby trust and confidence is now plummeting as a result.
This type of political betrayal has its local correlation in the Lindley Moor planning vote where those committed to a Green policy in their own areas voted for the motion to build 300 homes in someone else’s back yard.
Let’s hope that at the November 23 full council debate on the Local Development Framework (it starts at 10am, if anyone’s interested), common sense prevails and those who we have voted into office take note of the overwhelming rejection of the LDF (in its present form.
Let’s restore democracy to this council.
Alan Knight
Lingards Community Association
A war veteran’s plea
PRIME Minister David Cameron was going on earlier this month on TV about what he could do to build our country and make it a success.
Since he became our Prime Minister people are worse off.
We have food, gas and electric at massive prices, so how does he expect people on low incomes to cope?
Pensioners who were fighting or working their fingers to the bone during the 1939-45 war have very little to live on.
We are promised a £5 pension increase or thereabouts next April. This will just about buy us a book of first class stamps.
Come on Mr Cameron, we served this country during 1939-45 war so I ask you to rescue us by giving us a decent standard of living.
H BARROWCLOUGH (AGED 91)
Waterloo
A gem of an event
AFTER exhibiting for a fourth year, the Huddersfield Food and Drink Festival just gets better.
We realise that this is obviously weather-dependant to a certain extent, but driven by a dedicated team who make it work, year after year, turning it into a ‘gem’ of an event where everyone enjoys themselves, both customers and stallholders alike.
The stallholders selection process brings in a diverse variety of both food and drink from the local area and from further afield. Increased revenue is brought to local hotels, restaurants and shops.
Long may the festival continue to flourish in this healthy, friendly environment and we trust you will continue to invest in what has become such a worthy cause for the town.
NICK SPAVEN AND JANE KEMPSEY
Gastro Nicks Ltd
Cruelty beyond belief
REGARDING the story in the Examiner about the mother and grandmother leaving a toddler in agony for days with severe burns – how could they leave him for five to six days?
A little boy of two years with severe burns left nearly a week before he’s taken to see a doctor?
He had no pain relief. He was in acute pain and distress. Why? We have free health care, free medical for him. He had no need to be in any pain.
E POLLARD
Marsden
Thanks for support
I AM writing to thank your readers for their support following a recent stock appeal from Age UK.
As a result of our plea we’ve received a number of extra bags of donated items which, in turn, has helped us to raise vital funds to help older people across the country.
However, for those who haven’t donated there’s still time to get involved and it’s really easy. Just fill up a bag and pop down to your local Age UK shop.
It doesn’t have to be just clothes. At the moment we are particularly looking for good quality toys as well as books, homeware, CDs and DVDs.
And remember to ask in-store about Gift Aid which gives us an extra 25p for every £1 made by selling your items.
People can find their nearest Age UK shop by visiting www.ageuk.org.uk/local or calling Age UK on 0800 169 87 87.
J Hemingway, AGE UK manager
Holmfirth
