Letters to the Editor - August 20th 2007

Aug 20 2007 Liverpool Daily Post

Generation that does not care

WHERE did it all go wrong? When did this country descend into such a selfish depravity that we seem to have a totally alienated and disenfranchised section of a generation that cares for nothing.

I am lucky enough to live in a fairly quiet area, but even here there is trouble.

There are large gangs of teenagers whose behaviour is, at the very least, intimidating.

Many of them probably have no idea how frightening their behaviour is and that is the point; no one has taught them to care about other people or to think about the distress they may be causing.

In some instances, these gangs have moved beyond not caring, they are actively out to destroy anything and anybody that crosses their paths.

Only a few generations ago, it did not matter what your background, there was a basic understanding and respect for the lives and property of others but we have lived through a period of astonishing selfishness, presided over by governments that encouraged everyone to fight only for themselves while paying lip- service to family values.

The richer are richer then ever before but, unlike their equivalent in centuries gone by, they feel no pull towards philanthropy.

The emphasis these days is on possessions and academic achievement; we live in a time when everybody has everything they want but nothing of any real value. How sad.

Name and address supplied

Tougher on crime

IT IS time something was done to stop gangs terrorising our streets.

Law-abiding citizens should not be forced into taking action themselves and risking injury or worse. And even if we do, we face the threat of possible criminal action being taken against us.

The basic problem seems to be a lack of respect for the other people and their property and the police and figures of authority.

Society has got itself into a ridiculous situation where it seems the human rights of the criminals are more important than the rest of us.

When these people do enter the "system", they are molly-coddled and made to feel like nothing is their fault.

The onus should be put back on the parents to ensure they know where their children are and that they are not breaking the law.

If the child is under 16, the parents should be made to face the full consequences of their offspring’s actions and punished through the criminal system.

I remember our former Prime Minister Tony Blair once saying the Government was going to be "tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime". Whatever happened to this?

SJC, L3

School reunion

ALTHOUGH the Queen Mary High School for Girls Liverpool closed some years ago, old girls of the school continue to hold an annual reunion dinner in Liverpool.

This year the dinner is to be held on Friday, September 28, and former pupils can obtain further details from Bet Ashton on 0151 525 8682.

Margery Seed (formerly Highton), Birkdale

Exams success

MAY I take this opportunity to congratulate all those students who did so well in their A-levels.

Critics may say the exams are getting easier, but all that does is diminish the hard work put in by the students and the support given by their parents and teachers.

When we hear so much about yob culture and gang crime, it is heartening to know there are still some young people willing to put the work in to make a better life for themselves.

I wish all the students the very best as they embark on their university courses and in their future careers.

Mrs P Williams, Crosby

Moving etiquette

I ENJOYED your article on the etiquette of moving home as I have also been on the receiving end of less than pleasant former owners.

We had door panels smashed out and there had been no attempt to clean the place at all.

There was also a bizarre note telling us that "the back room carpet is in the garage" doubtless fulfilling their contractual obligation to leave carpets and curtains, but not what we had expected.

Needless to say, it was far too soiled to actually be re-laid.

Perhaps the most bizarre incident was the sofa dumped outside the garage door.

It was soaked through with rain so we called the council to remove it.

Shortly after, the real owner, who had been having it repaired at the house, turned up and they weren’t happy.

Later on, the police called to check that the previous owners really had gone.

When we moved on, we even kept in touch with the new owner for a while and were invited to have a look round to see what she had done to the place.

JR, Chester

Poor service

I RECENTLY discovered that my bank card had been used fraudulently on the internet.

This was distressing enough, but the reaction by my bank was even more upsetting.

After cancelling my card, they failed to order a replacement and by the time it arrives I will have been without it for two weeks.

In fact, I had to borrow some cash from a friend to pay for the stamp to post this letter.

Then, when I went to change my address at another bank, I was asked whether I had made an appointment and was made to wait 40 minutes before they would do it for me.

It really is no wonder that people switch to online banking when they receive this sort of treatment.

Name and address supplied

Holiday abroad

REMIND me again why we should waste our lives holidaying in England to be more eco-friendly when the weather is as rotten as this.

I say, get on a plane and fly as far away as possible to some foreign clime where the sun actually shines. Who cares about global warming when we’re putting up with all this rain.

I would welcome a bit of global warming if it meant some sunshine.

I’m off to Spain next week and I just might not come back.

PG, Southport

Weather talk

I KNOW that we Brits are famous for talking about the weather but for goodness sake haven’t we had a lot of it lately. Rainstorms, flooding, the odd bit of sun.

You’d think we’d be happy with so much to discuss, instead of complaining about the poor summer all the time.

Mrs P Harvey, West Derby

Waste of resources

IT IS good to see at last that the recycling figures on Merseyside are slowly improving – but is it not about time we gave more thought to the need to buy much of the produce which ends up in the bin?

Supermarkets compete to buy at lowest prices in developing countries, especially China. We look upon the clothes and toys we buy as disposable – and quickly throw them away.

What a waste of resources.

And, of course, we have made sure in the process that we do not have the factories to make the goods – they have all moved to China.

As China grows richer, what is our future?

As the Earth’s resources run out, who will supply our cheap goods when China dominates the world economy. Should we not sort ourselves now?

Jimmy Smith, Birkenhead

Modern structures

I’VE long been an admirer of the superb craftsmanship of the masons and bricklayers who built the white stone dock walls and buildings around the Albert Dock.

They were like giant jigsaw puzzles, each stone fitted perfectly into place without large mortar joints.

What a disappointment to see an example of modern work at the liner terminal.

The round structure and close- by wall are not well-finished.

This standard of workmanship is just not good enough for such an important project.

Brian Newall, Maghull

A nanny state

I FOR one will be refusing to pay a congestion charge if it is ever introduced to Liverpool. So sue me!

We live in a free country and we should be allowed to pay whatever taxes we want. The Government shouldn’t be allowed to tell us what to do.

Who wants to live in a nanny state anyway?

HS, via e-mail

Leave them alone

I THINK that people should leave the parents of Madeleine McCann alone.

They are going through a very difficult time and it doesn’t help when people are badgering them about whether they think she is alive or dead.

The loss of a child is an impossible thing for any parent to have to cope with, and in such high-profile circumstances it is even more difficult.

My heart goes out to them as they try to cope with this terrible situation and I pray that little Maddie will be returned to her family safe and sound.

I’m sure every other parent following this sad story feels the same way.

Mrs Harrison, Formby

Curb alcohol sales

YOUR correspondent B Beard, of Birkenhead, hit the nail right on the head in their letter on Friday.

Drink is a modern plague, we have all the fuss over cigarettes and illicit drugs yet we allow alcohol to destroy our society. In fact, it is even applauded.

I am not suggesting prohibition but it is time we started policing alcohol sale better. Raise the drinking age and stop all these ridiculous drinks promotions and we might see some results.

P Watmough, Halton