Sir, It seems that we are increasingly being asked to accept cuts to our public services that run right to the heart of what a mature and caring society should explicitly pride itself on providing (“50 services that are shutting their doors”, Mar 29). Indeed things that we might expect the Big Society to support. We are being told that this is necessary due to the profligacy of the previous Government, but the cuts run so deep and will affect so many that one cannot help to assume that a high level of ideology is driving the knife rather than a need to reduce spending on so-called non-essential services.
While accepting these claims we are now asked to support military action in three theatres of war, and subjected to headline grabbing and orchestrated “increases” in selective spending.
A mature society should have the option to spend its money where it best sees fit. The majority of citizens would prefer even a small increase in basic tax to fund the services now under threat rather than be told that we have simply overspent and should cut back in such a draconian manner.
The public is quite mature. David Cameron should let us choose what to spend our money on: more public services and less sabre rattling would be a good start.
Professor Steve Allin
Etwall, Derbyshire