We shun BBC shows with strong language

SO we read that one of the Dimbleby brothers is upset about the attack on the licence fee.

In the news is the fact that the young are not watching the BBC and are using alternatives. I have more news for them; the old are increasingly not watching it.

If my wife and I are anything to go by, we shun the programmes that contain strong language or very strong language which is often accompanied by snarling nastiness or often anachronistically put in for effect.

The BBC “gravy train” has the nerve to call some of it “public service broadcasting”. In my mind it is nothing of the sort.

There is a danger that this terrible example, and I must say that “we are no angels”, will be looked upon by our youngsters as the norm. As long as they have a captive audience of millions of licence fee payers, do they care?

Howard Robinson Beaufort, Ebbw Vale

Voters are looking for radical change

I am writing to challenge some misconceptions that are being expressed regarding the way forward for the Labour Party in particular the need to embrace the middle ground.

I feel this is a failure to understand the nature of the problems we face in this and many other countries.

Since the financial crisis of 2008 it is not possible to return to business as usual with a form of managerial politics which says the other lot are making a hash of things but give us a chance and we may do better.

The nature of the crisis is far deeper than that, it has resulted in

Trump in the USA and Brexit in the UK as a response to austerity and a lack of wage growth over the past 10 years.

Voters are looking for radical change not steady as you go.

They punished political parties who didn’t appear to respect the result of the referendum because they wanted change and expect politicians to respect their decision. I think they made a huge mistake in voting for the Tories in the hope they would deliver some golden past before we joined the EU but those who crave the middle ground are also guilty of wanting a return to us being in the EU and all the benefits they feel that brought us.

It may well have been very good for those well-educated middleclass types who could go and study and work in Europe but for a lot of people Europe was somewhere they went on holiday not somewhere that offered them opportunities and jobs.

So those that want this middle ground are failing to accept reality, they don’t like the Tory Government but are equally terrified of a radical alternative under Labour describing it as Marxist and extremist despite it being nothing of the sort.

I believe they are terrified of change in case it affects their comfortable lives and so smear any left leaning Labour politicians and aid the Tories in their despicable policies.

We see the rise of Bernie Sanders in the USA and the terror of some Democrats regarding his radical policies.

They also might hate Trump but can’t contemplate a radical government under Bernie Sanders.

They are also protecting their privilege and will ultimately aid Trump in getting re-elected.

The young in both countries have suffered over the last 10 years and feel they have nothing to lose, they will vote for and embrace radical policies to get a fairer society with more opportunities for themselves and future generations.

Those in the centre have failed them and don’t deserve the chance to do so again.

Mike McCarthy Crickhowell

So is devolution financially viable?

THE flooding has been devastating in some communities and relief and restructuring should be forthcoming.

The WAG have promised financial assistance but according to a cohort of Welsh Labour MPs it is insufficient and, using the axiom that there should be a UK approach, request a further £30m.

Although a devolved measure, it seems for all the clamour for more powers and subsequent law making, the WAG are unable to manage these and similar necessary projects.

So it does lead one to wonder whether further devolution or independence will be financially /economically viable.

The seeds of doubt in present majority political influences are growing.

Windsor Davies Blandford, Dorset

I have news for them; the old are increasingly not watching it Howard Robinson Beaufort, Ebbw Vale

Increase taxes to solve care crisis

SOCIAL care crisis. Yes, there is one. There really is. The number of people with dementia, disability or other conditions are increasing every year.

The money given to local authorities is nowhere near enough to provide the support needed.

I have worked in the care sector for over 50 years. I have seen things get steadily worse.

We should be ashamed of ourselves.

It is simply not possible to resolve this without increasing taxes.

This should be beyond glib slogans and personality contests. So, post Brexit, do we really care?

Phil Madden Abergavenny

We voted against Corbyn’s hard left

IN our recent General Election, the people of this country more or less categorically shouted a loud and clear “no” to Corbyn and his hardleft, communistic ideas.

Can the more acceptably moderate members of the Labour Party then make a stronger stand against this being continued and promoted in any of those standing for leadership.

The United Kingdom doesn’t want communism, and we are convinced neither do they.

Surely we need a healthy opposition party for the good of this land – does Labour want a party? Or not? Charlotte Hardie Newtown, Powys

Limit amount of vehicle usage

THERE is a plan afoot in England from next year to ban smoke emit

ting wood and coal stoves. This measure is to try to amend climate change. Well, while we are at it, how about limiting the amount of vehicle usage.

It seems to be that almost every household has at least two cars, and whilst this is good for the motor manufacturers and petrol and diesel suppliers, what is the adverse effect on our planet and the inhabitants thereof?

Ironically, following the recent flooding, there were reported conversations which followed the lines of “our house lost four cars, or our house lost two cars in the floods”.

Now if carbon monoxide is leading to climate change and climate change is leading to weather change, which in turn leads to excessive rainfall, which in turn leads to flooding... it seems that we are the manufacturers of our own problems.

How about a law allowing one car per household?

And also provide an effective public transport service.

Mind you, when I was younger I didn’t see the harm in using

“Shanks’s Pony”.

Lyndon Morgan Gelli, Rhondda