Time to think of workers
GLOBALISATION has been driven by large Western multi-national companies, who see financial benefits for their shareholders, and not for the workforces that developed and grew them.
Although it has brought wealth to lesser developed countries, it is not without a price.
The export of jobs has been to non-democratic countries such as China and to less-sophisticated so-called democracies who are governed by strong-line, authoritarian regimes.
As these economies grow closer to that of Western countries, will they have the same laissez-faire outlook as is prevalent in the West – or will their national interests be the overriding factor?
For the working populations of Western democracies, the implications of this creeping managed evolution will not sit comfortably.
Gerry Doyle via email CULTURE OF GREED
WHEN it is said that Brexitengulfed Britain is “an anxious culture” we know the culture reference is to the total inherited ideas, beliefs, values, and knowledge, which constitute the shared bases of social action, and not those artistic activities covered in newspaper culture pages.
The prospect of a no-deal Brexit causes anxiety to those who have been fortunate enough through nature and nurture to have successfully navigated our culture, as they fear they have most to lose from a systemic change.
However, I am reminded that cultures do change, sometimes quite dramatically. For instance, when Captain Cook sailed into Tahiti, he found a culture where, in the words of one of the later Bounty mutineers: “It is no disgrace for a man to be poor ... but to be rich and covetous is a disgrace to human nature ... a man of such description would be accounted a hateful person.”
In pre-colonial Tahiti, if you had a surplus, you shared it.
Geoff Naylor via email TIME FOR MORE TESTS?
IAM RoadSmart, the biggest independent road safety charity in the UK, is very thankful that no-one has been seriously injured in the collision involving the Duke Of Edinburgh and we wish all of those involved a speedy recovery.
The Government’s own road safety priorities highlight the need to do more for mature drivers and on rural roads, as well as a focus on younger drivers, speeding and drink and drug driving to further improve road safety.
We support these priorities, and call for the Government to put action behind their words.
While every driver is different, we support the findings of the Older Driver Task Force that the age of licence renewal be raised to 75 but with evidence of an eye test also required.
We would also like to see more encouragement for drivers of all ages to take voluntary driving reviews to help them make informed choices.
Neil Greig IAM RoadSmart, director of policy and research