A matter of priorities

THE "shortfall," as it is termed, for funding for social care is £6 billion. The price of war on Iraq and Afghanistan is £5 billion and rising.

"We need a national debate," say Gordon Brown and Alan Johnson on the "problems" of long-term care of "vulnerable old people." Free care is going to be too costly, they intimate.

Strange, isn't it, that no government minister says that we need a debate on whether we could afford the US Trident nuclear-armed submarines, costing us all £1.5 billion a year or, more significantly, Trident "replacement" for at least £76 billion?

But all should be well. Hazel Blears is apparently saying that we all feel that our voices are "unheard" and that "nothing will make any difference."

Do you think that she and the rest of the Cabinet are now going to sit down and listen and truly comprehend why people are so angry about the present government policies on tax, post office closures, the axing of hospital departments, shortages of nurses and medical personnel, cuts to welfare services, especially for the vulnerable, and lack of affordable housing while our money is used for war and weapons of mass destruction?

Will they listen and change direction?

RAE STREET
Littleborough