Letter: Fiscal decisions the responsibility of us all

The debate on fiscal responsibility does not lie solely within the narrow ownership of the prominent voices of industry, the fiefdom and charge of the wise earls of the financial media or even the wider voices of economists and stewards of gathered information progressing fact and opinion through modern think-tanks. It involves all of us and I welcome the heartfelt letter (8 January) from R Mill Irving, who wrote of "a matter of personal honour and self-respect".

This year we will celebrate and remember David Hume and the Enlightenment. As we "apprentices" of life take the event to look at new ways of rebuilding a fresh Scotland, we will draw inspiration from remembering Hume, Adam Smith and others, thereby deepening and widening the conversation I have referred to before, without the need of incessant statistical manipulation and party bias.

As I review for the third financial year now, such creative ways as I can evolve of surviving and continuing the success of my business in dire economic circumstances, I will look too at just how we as a nation can emulate the successes we see in business, health, education etc in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and elsewhere.

In Ireland, I will continue to try to come to terms with new determination I find of business there, but almost absent here, to start from fundamentals again, now that crises upon crises are accepted and reality is borne out.

I will continue to believe with more conviction than ever, that only we have responsibility for ourselves, our state and the raising and spending of our own taxes. The new year has so far through the columns of The Scotsman and a very welcome debate on fiscal responsibility served to strengthen my own belief that we soon will see a consensus of opinion that logically sees us determine our own affairs in terms of fiscal responsibility. Nothing short of it makes any sense. Nothing short of it will free us to exploit our suppressed entrepreneurial spirit.

DAN MACDONALD

Chief executive, Macdonald Estates, Shore House

North Queensferry

IT IS easy to sympathise with the view of R Mill Irving that Scottish independence has more to do with self-respect than with financial considerations. But, sadly, this brand of nationalism is a rather immature view of how the world really works.

The way we educate our children, look after our sick and our elderly, and the care we offer our poor, rank far higher up any scale of self- respect than the colour of the flag flying on top of Edinburgh Castle.

The safety of our roads and bridges, our public hygiene, our justice system etc are all deserving of more respect than any bagpipe, kilt or national anthem.

Our ability to earn a good living in the world without recourse to the begging bowl is a matter of great pride to the huge majority of Scots.And it must be noted, none of which would have been possible without the close bonds we've formed with all our island neighbours.

Consequently, how we finance all these activities is absolutely crucial to the way we shape the Scottish end of our British society. For those reasons, the moral high ground is not occupied by those who clamour for independence at any price.

In truth, the Scots with the greatest self-respect are those who put the well-being of others before their own "national" ambitions.

ROBERT VEITCH

Paisley Drive

Edinburgh

I WAS very surprised to learn from R Mill Irving that Scotland was his country and that it was governed by "another"?

The house I live in, and surrounding land, are, in fact, not yours. Further, apart from the meddling from our local authority, my little bit of Scotland within the UK is governed jointly and successfully between myself and my wife. We each contribute different amounts of finance and skills to our union.

Perhaps, narrow nationalists were never taught by their parents, nursery, or primary school that it is good to share with others.

COLIN WILSON

Arnothill Court

Falkirk, Stirlingshire