Letters to the Editor – 27/03 – No green jobs, Cost of government, Best of Twitter
No green jobs
[Re: The green myth: Why renewables destroy jobs, yesterday]
Matthew Sinclair’s excellent article, on why investment in costly green energy should never be advertised as creating jobs, merely stated what should be obvious. And yet it has become a political mantra that “green investment” is good for the economy. Politicians need to be honest with the public, and spell out the only case for renewable energy: namely that the jobs lost as a result are a better outcome than global warming. Personally, I disagree. But deceiving the electorate must never be allowed.
Matt Gillie
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Cost of government
[Re: The only way to really cut spending is to reengineer the state, yesterday]
The cost of government is the net burden on taxpayers. Simplifying our tax and benefits system by scrapping all means-tested, conditional or contributory benefits, and replacing them with a citizens income, would reduce costs and lower the overall tax burden. This could save at least £10bn a year, and would also remove crippling rates of withdrawal (which create welfare traps). Saving money and getting people back into work: what’s not to like? Given that it would only be payable to UK citizens, it even circumvents EU benefit rules.
Name withheld
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BEST OF TWITTER
SNP forced into rewriting Independence White Paper oil numbers and public spending plans. Shambles.
@TogetherDarling
Putin’s approval rating has now risen to 80 per cent – poll.
@nr_zero
If you’re of the mind to worry about expansionist powers, worry about China, not Russia.
@ianbremmer
Cuba to allow wholly owned foreign companies – realised socialism doesn’t work.
@GABaines