It’s unfair to aim digs at Trump’s supporters
ONE must take exception to the remark by Brenda Power in her article on the Markle in-laws (Mail, Saturday). In it, she says: ‘The Markle clan are the face of the America that voted Trump – smallminded, envious, griping, vulgar hustlers ready to blame everyone else for their self-inflicted woes, and it ain’t a pretty sight.’
The people that voted Trump were the smart section of the populace that had become aware that they were being deluded by the mainstream corporate-controlled media, who have their own agenda. Trump is the only leader ever to give the people exactly what he promised. In this country the media demonises him at every opportunity.
As soon as Trump announces a state of emergency to build the wall on the US southern border, RTÉ’s Keelin Shanley has an exofficial from the Obama administration on the line for his (doom and gloom) view.
How would we like it if this country faced an invasion of thousands of Third World migrants like the caravans trooping up through Central America to the US?
The only form of a warm welcome for migrants that we show is to repeatedly set fire to their intended reception centres.
History will one day decide that Trump was the best president the US ever had.
JOHN HUGHES, Co. Galway.
On the other hand...
IT appears President Trump thinks he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize just like Obama’s one. A misspelling of Nobel – Noble – gives one of the qualities often associated with most laureates.
The Nobel should go to only the best of the best although sometimes hindsight adds more to the story. With the Mexican wall now a possibility, the idea of peace is being challenged. Peace cannot ever be enforced or imprisoned, it must be earned and especially protected by all. Sorry, Mr President, no prize for you. DENNIS FITZGERALD,
Melbourne, Australia.
PC madness at UCC
AT UCC, the name of genius James Watson has been taken from a building at its health campus accusing him of making ‘racist and misogynistic comments on genetics and race’.
A brilliant scientist holding such opinions, even results of his research, is no longer acceptable to the gods at our little college. The PC hankering of UCC is to outlaw the name of a great man who was not beyond tongue-incheek quips, and especially about us Irish. ‘Grain of salt’ territory is not for UCC, which will henceforth protect its students from his unrelated genius.
It could begin by attempting to prove him ‘wrong’ by the young Irish students choosing to not fall about drunk on the streets adjoining the campus on a nightly basis, which is a moot point Watson broadly and jokingly made about the Irish. The residents near the college are far more offended by student behaviour than they are by the living marvel that is Mr Watson. Yes, we were all young once, but you get my valid drift.
Keep the great work of wonderful people like Watson, which has hugely benefited mankind, separate from silly insular politically correct gestures of the ‘thinkers’ at UCC. ROBERT SULLIVAN, Bantry, Co. Cork.
Too many consultants
IN Friday’s Mail there was an article with the headline: ‘It’s not too late to rip up hospital contract.’ This advice came from Mick Wallace, who has vast experience in the building trade, and should know what he is talking about. Wallace claims re-tendering can save €500million. Now there is a bit of sound advice offered by a sitting TD which didn’t cost a cent in consultancy fees.
In Saturday’s paper was a headline: ‘Back us or sack us Leo, says hospital builder.’ There was a subheadline: ‘Giant BAM says if government wants to opt out, it will co-operate.’ That generous offer by BAM lets the Government off the hook. Opposition TDs have called for a halt to building work, and rightly so. The hospital should be built on a greenfield site, close to a main rail line and main road so that people and patients can have easy access to the hospital.
It could be located on the outskirts of Dublin, but it would be better placed near Athlone, which is central to the whole country. Whoever caused it to be located in the heart of Dublin should not be let near any building project.
What I cannot understand is why the Office of Public Works was not tasked with building the hospital. At least then we would be able to identify and deal with incompetents, whereas at the moment, nobody is to blame, gross incompetence all round. What concerns me most about this, and other public building projects, is the amount we pay to consultants. We should not be employing outside consultants; we have a highly intelligent civil service who should be upskilled in any area where the Government needs advice.
This, of course, means the consultant cronies of whichever parties are in power would lose out, and rightly so. It is time for a change in the way our Governments operates, and gets away from crony politics. It is dishonest, and not good for the future of our country. It holds us back when we should be one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
JOHN FAIR, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.