SIR,
In the Beacon of 6th July, Gareth Dunn is right when he says we should be looking at the bigger picture at a time when Britain is broke.
It is time we had this debate. Gareth's letter opens up what we are all about as a society.
We were broke after the war, but we achieved in education, construction and industry.
Whether we are children or pensioners, our income from birth to the grave decides our lifestyles.
Democracy needs honest governance; corruption would not flourish if our paid representatives and the public were interested.
Workers have a right to withdraw their labour and show how angry they are that their deferred wages are disappearing.
When we lose the right to complain we will be in a fearsome state.
All employers should seek to aspire for the best for their business and employees.
When we as public employers pay into the public purse, we should expect decent services and good standards of service.
Collectively, workers have fought hard in the past for such terms and conditions.
Exploitation is not warranted.
We are a better society for sharing and attaining a decent living standard.
Capitalism by its very nature is competitive; it gobbles up its smaller competitors.
The Rupert Murdoch media empire is a fine example.
Blame can be laid on greedy bankers, sub prime mortgages, past governments and consumerism.
Globally we have all been guilty of not challenging and demanding transparency and accountability.
One could argue that private employers are rarely as accountable as the public sector, yet within our structure they play an important part.
This government is relying on them to pick up the economy by replacing lost jobs within a short period.
The social, political and economical ideals of all should be in the best interests of its people and not the 'commanding heights of power'.
It's time we asked who runs the country – who does the best for its people?
SG Gilbert
(Monmouth)