Letters Page

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Panic causing financial turmoil

SIR, – The country, and seemingly the world, is in financial crisis with banks and shares crashing around our ears just about every day. I know there are many possible causes for this but I am convinced the biggest one is panic. The main reason for these collapses is that everybody is frantically trying to get their money out of whatever they put it in when growth was positive. This is creating unnecessary runs on the bank and panic share trading which is throwing the financial sector into turmoil and making the situation worse.

Why is everybody panicking? You may well ask. It is because we are all too well informed. Modern-day news and press coverage has created a situation where we all know who said what to whom and who did what in response almost as it happens. Everything has become instant public knowledge and I can’t help thinking that too much information is not always a good thing.

Twenty years ago this set of circumstances might still have happened but I am sure it would have passed by without the headless chicken syndrome that now seems to dominate the situation to the detriment of us all.

Nigel Brazier,

Kennel Cottage, Lairshill, Newmachar, Aberdeenshire.

Help for people on modest incomes

SIR, – How much more can those on modest incomes or pensions take? We have had the 10p tax fiasco, the serious hike in fuel prices, the disproportionate fuel price differential between town and country, the rapidly-rising cost of living, and the infamous road fund licence trick which rendered unsaleable cars with larger engines, neatly trapping their owners into a choice – continue to use it, but sparingly, or give it away.

Now we have the great dual-fuel robbery where because consumers do not have mains gas they are denied the opportunity to benefit from discounted fuel, a real double whammy.

Is there any help for the less well-off rural dweller and indeed the less well-off urbanite with a prepayment meter?

While our leaders, in their ivory towers, struggle to come to terms with their incompetent handling of the economy they should dry their crocodile tears and actually do something for those who are facing the consequences of their inaction. As Shakespeare said: “Be great in act as you have been in thought”.

John Rogerson,

Mill of Durno,

Pitcaple,

Inverurie.

No surprise over Dylan’s inspiration

SIR, – Your editorial (Press and Journal, October 6) expresses surprise that Bob Dylan should nominate Robert Burns as his muse. Dylan is undoubtedly the greatest songwriter of the 20th century and continues to produce innovative work today.

From his earliest recordings in the 1960s, Dylan clearly shows he has a deep affection for traditional Scottish song and verse. Dylan wrote new lyrics to several Scottish folk tunes and thus Farewell to Tarwathie became Farewell Angelina and The Road and the Miles to Dundee became The Walls of Red Wing. He even sang an Americana version of The Bonnie Lass o’ Fyvie on his eponymous first record released in 1962, which he called Finerio (Pretty Peggy-O).

The connection to Robert Burns is highlighted in the song Highlands from 1997 which is structured around Burns’ romantic poem My Heart’s in the Highlands. This 16-minute narrative ballad talks of Dylan’s wish to return to the mythical Highlands and predicted his purchase of a house on Speyside in 2006.

Bob Dylan is an American icon but his connection with Scotland and Robert Burns is strong, we should not be surprised.

Iain Gunn,

Ach na Muilne, Sheriffmill, Elgin.

Jack McConnell’s job description

SIR, – Gordon Brown has appointed Jack McConnell as special representative for strengthening conflict resolution. Could someone explain to me, a mere taxpayer, what we are supporting in this venture. Is he a local ombudsman, a trades union mediator, a pacifier in warfare or simply a resolver of complaints against the government at Westminster. Should we not be made aware of his true and credible job description?

Dr Rosemary J. Lee,

Marycroft, Rafford,

Moray.

Caps on buying goods at Tesco

SIR, – I was rather bemused by the attitude of Tesco at Fraserburgh when Joyce Tennant was not allowed to buy 25 packs of cat food (Press and Journal, October 3).

Being in this store only a few days ago I witnessed a couple buying lots of tins of evaporated milk – probably more than 25 – with many jars of coffee.

On another occasion, a couple of weeks earlier, a lady had about 36 tins of sweetcorn in her trolley.

I wonder if they were treated in the same manner as Mrs Tennant!

My visit on September 29 was to include two bananas in my trolley, but there was none to purchase. Perhaps this store could carry a larger stock and everyone would get what they needed without complaints.

Mrs E. Macsween,

Glen Clova,

St Leonards,

East Kilbride.

Trying to trace a friend of family

SIR, – I need some assistance in finding an old friend. I lived in Scotland about 29 years ago and my father worked offshore in the North Sea with a man named Steve Williams. I believe he was 19 at the time and had a brother.

My dad was stationed in Aberdeen around 1979 and we lived between Fintray and Inverurie.

I would like to get in touch with Steve as he was very close to my father and the rest of the family.

If you can help in any way I would be grateful.

Julia Turpin Pointer,

Fort Worth, Texas.

(juliapointer@ rocketmail.com)