Madam, – The open letter from the Tasc economists and social scientists (Opinion, March 8th) is an important contribution to the debate on our economic future. The deficits they point to in our economic and social infrastructure are beyond dispute.
My issue with the argument is its heavy emphasis on further punishing the over-strained resources of the middle classes. Between childcare, transport, escalating Government charges, widespread paycuts and substantial mortgage payments, the proposed method of plugging the social and economic lacunas would still require significant contribution from those most affected by recent budgets and the economic downturn.
Unlike the writers, I have no faith in the capacity of government agencies to operate efficiently or effectively.
The remedies proposed by the these individuals have a musty reek of central planning – nay, of socialism, to them. That was tried and failed even more spectacularly than the bust we are currently experiencing. It is disappointing that those charged with fostering innovation and challenging students at third- level are fixed at the hip to such orthodoxies and lack the very inventiveness that they charge the country itself of lacking. – Yours, etc,