The Socialist inbox: letters to the editors, photo Suzanne Beishon

The Socialist inbox: letters to the editors, photo Suzanne Beishon   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Do you have something to say?

Send your news, views and criticism, in not more than 150 words, to [email protected] – or if you’re not online, PO Box 1398, Enfield EN1 9GT

We reserve the right to shorten and edit letters. For legal reasons, we need your full name, address and phone number – but confidentiality will be respected if requested

All the president’s doctors

What a marvellous healthcare system is in place in the US! At least six doctors to the patient, cutting-edge medicines, and when you’re discharged you go home to 24/7 professional health care. Oh wait! This first-rate care isn’t even available to those who are able to fork out for health insurance.

Elaine Brunskill, Gateshead

Test-and-Trace payment when?

The Tories may have announced Test-and-Trace support payments from 28 September but don’t think you can actually get a payment. The Tories have dumped the responsibility for payment onto under-resourced local authorities which were not prepared. In some areas, don’t expect to even be able to apply before mid-October.

A local authority worker

Pandemic pandemonium

photo vperemen.com/CC

photo vperemen.com/CC   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

I was hoping for leadership from our government during the pandemic, but this did not happen and many people died who could have been saved.

My children were at home with me, which we liked, but there was and always is, the fear of being infected.

I’m recovering from brain surgery and have not been able to have face-to-face meetings with support services or even my GP. Everything is done over the phone, which is better than nothing, and needs must.

I’m very worried that one of my daughters is back at college, which has cases of Covid, and another is back at work and doesn’t feel safe. Management has asked for meetings and feedback, but ignores what staff say.

We are all worried about the economy and whether my youngest daughters will even be able to attend uni. The exam fiasco is such a mess and will most likely have ripple effects for years to come.

I feel that my daughters may need to live with me forever as I’m not sure how anyone can earn enough to privately rent.

Janine Hill, Teesside

Youth to blame?

I won’t blame the young people who were told to go to work.

I won’t blame the young people who were told to go to school.

I won’t blame the young people who were told to get the bus but stay safe.

I won’t blame the young people who were told to eat out and go to the pub.

I won’t blame the young people who were told to go to the zoo and theme parks.

The government has the audacity to tell the young to think of their grannies after the care home fiasco.

Rachel Laverick, Blyth

It’s absolutely appalling that students and young people generally are being blamed for the increase in Covid. It’s mostly young working-class people working in the service industry, forced by extreme economic hardship to work or starve in many cases.

And work has the most minimum of health and safety measures in place or checked – apart from some strong union-organised sites. And often they live in more cramped conditions, more at risk in a number of ways.

So little is said about the unsafe opening of schools and the impact of over 60% back in workplaces.

We could have been back to a mentally and physically safer way of living, which I’m also desperate for. But this government – in cohoots with some of the too-silent, and accepting union leaders – is doing deals with useless private companies that are pissing away our money, and literally killing us.

There are ways to organise or back up campaigns and fight for our future.

For students or education workers to work together with parents and carers and get people safe, collaborate and organise for the best of our lives. Not this.

We can live better, be better and create better. But not alone. Wherever you are, you have more power than you think. We have more power acting together.

Arti, London