Blinkered views

I find Brian Monteith’s brand of right wing populism unappealing, but he surpasses himself in his article “Climate change isn’t the biggest threat to life on earth” (Perspective,

23 April). He finishes by saying, “if we want to avoid extinction, extinguishing socialism in all its guises must be our priority”.

Earlier in the article he lists a number of achievements of the human race, including longer life expectancy, lower child mortality and higher literacy rates. Is he not aware that better medicine available to all and free education are the major reasons for these improvements? If we were to “extinguish socialism in all its guises”, these free services would go too. I’m sure that’s fine for him and those close to him, but it certainly would not be for those who can barely afford to house, feed and clothe themselves and their families.

He rightly points out that major advances in agriculture, crop development and protection have contributed to being able to feed the 7 billion people on Earth, but he does not note that many of the major advances have come from research collaborations jointly funded by industry and government agencies; in our case, often international collaborations funded through Europe. He wants to stop all this in its tracks by leaving Europe without any kind of deal.

I agree that capitalism also has contributed greatly to the development of the human race, but Mr Monteith needs to be more open and honest about where his populist sound bites lead – to a privileged elite and a massive underclass which will not be kept down.

DAVID COLE-HAMILTON Buchanan Gardens, St Andrews