Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments
Should we have to pay tax?
Yann (MetroTalk, Thu) writes that ‘tax is the subscription I pay to live in a civilised society’.
When I visited Hong Kong – before it was handed it over to the communists – no one really paid tax except for a few very rich. The average man and women paid no tax on their earnings or savings and there was no worry about inheritance tax on smaller estates.
Hong Kong was a civilised society and perhaps one of the safest places in the world. George Clark, via email
Reader ‘can’t wait’ for ‘bewigged buffoons’ to be replaced with AI
Fining 59-year-old John Holland the ludicrously small sum of £116,000 for turning a beauty spot into a rubbish dump and illegal caravan park sends the wrong message to hundreds of other scofflaws who blight the environment with illegal fly-tipping (Metro, Thu).
Given Holland made in excess of £1million in the process, it leaves him with a £900,000 profit from his crime.
The only appropriate sentence for Holland and others of his ilk would be a mandatory minimum of ten years behind bars, a heavy fine and confiscation of all profits they’ve made, or items bought with the profits of their crimes.
The bewigged buffoons who purport to dispense justice in this country are totally disconnected from real life. Frankly I can’t wait for the day when they, at least, are replaced by AI. Bob Readman, Sevenoaks
Reader says ‘Educating boys and men that females are not put on earth for their pleasure’ is the way to combat violence against women
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Hayley (MetroTalk, Thu) wonders what the impact on women’s safety and crime levels in general would be if there were an 8pm curfew on men.
The thing is, women and girls suffer from abuse at home. Sexual, financial and physical abuse are the norm for a lot of females behind closed doors. Boys are growing up watching their dads or male relatives dish out abuse. Many of them grow up to be the abuser.
In terms of a curfew of men on the street, this would affect those men who are not guilty of violence against women and girls at home – and do nothing to hinder those who are. Educating boys and men that females are not put on earth for their pleasure or to abuse physically and financially plays a part in helping.
Communities need to do their part, too, and stop treating violence towards females within their cultures and religions as acceptable. Until this happens then nothing will change. Mercedes, Woodford
Non-Christian reader celebrates Christmas ‘because it reminds us wehave the hope that is needed to transform society’
Pete (MetroTalk, Tue) talks about Jesus being central to why we celebrate Christmas – but I would like to offer a contrary view.
There is some scholarly dispute as to which was the month of his birth but, in any event, the date we celebrate is actually a pre-Christian festival that was adopted to appeal to the masses of the time.
As a non-Christian, I celebrate Christmas because it reminds us as a collective that we have it in ourselves to provide the hope that is needed to transform our society. Saul Burbridge, Birmingham
Is Russia ready for war?
So health secretary Wes Streeting thinks Russia is ‘sabre-rattling’ when it talks of being ‘ready’ for a wider war in Europe against the backdrop of peace talks over Ukraine (Metro, Thu).
Was Mr Streeting asleep when Russia unveiled its latest weapons – and when was the last time Britain and Nato unveiled their deterrent?
Words will not stop the missiles. Roger, Wolverhampton
Is there any point in discussing which Government wasted the most money?
Kevin (MetroTalk, Fri) says the Tories have wasted more money in government than Labour and points to the Covid test and trace app, dodgy PPE contracts, fraudulent bounceback loans and the Rwanda scheme.
We could argue all day long on who wastes the most money, Tory or Labour, but the fact is the Tories had a valid reason to spend money when Covid happened and have never bankrupted the country, unlike Labour did in 1979 and 2010 – and are doing another great job of doing now. Denise, London
