RAPID RESPONSES
Europe’s cash cows
[Re: Europe’s shared currency shouldn’t entail Germany bankrolling a debt union, Wednesday]
An interesting article by Jamie Whyte, though it misses one crucial point. Whyte’s premise that Germany shouldn’t subsidise other EU members, by principle, forgets one long-standing policy – the Common Agricultural Policy. Germany has indirectly subsidised French agriculture for years. Of course, Germany benefited from other EU policies, notably open markets for its industry. Germany was happy with this subsidy and corresponding benefit when Europe was prosperous. Now things aren’t going so well, it can hardly oppose cross-border subsidies on a point of principle.
Jeremy Evans
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Beecroft’s burden
[Re: Tinkering with Britain’s economy won’t drive the growth we need, yesterday]
Simon Walker is right to condemn the public attacks on Adrian Beecroft for his attempts to find innovative solutions to Britain’s lagging competitiveness. We need more thinkers like him in government, particularly those with business experience. Are attacks on Beecroft because he’s revealed a truth that no one else has dared uncover?
Eric Summers
[Re: Don’t ignore the moral arguments against high taxation, Wednesday]
High taxation may be immoral, but is low taxation any more moral? Any extortion by force is wrong in principle.
James Beard