Sir – Jeremy Hunt's meeting to discuss MP expenses as announced in this week's Herald, is a much needed opportunity to make a fresh start. This problem has demonstrated that our MPs are complacent, secretive and act against the wishes of the people. These are common features of all problems and indicate a failure in our systems to act effectively. By changing the understandings upon which decision makers tackle and review problems we will create the right climate for better outcomes.
Our decision makers must be seekers of the truth, provide honest information, encourage and reward warning voices, be acting genuinely for betterment of individuals, put people before rules, etc. These are in fact God's forever truths that previous generations based their understandings ... knowing right from wrong, having morals, treating others as you would wish them to treat you, telling the truth, etc. By abandoning God as the basis of our understanding we are generating more and more problems of ever increasing magnitude.
The error in understanding what is right is not confined to the MP expenses issue. This error has generated problems in all areas of our lives that have not yet come to light and these should now be re-examined and corrected. Millions of us are suffering and dying of diseases of 'unknown causes'. In fact, our authorities are aware of these causes but have chosen not to reveal them to the public.
Instead they have made calculations that this suffering is a necessary cost to prevent much wider suffering. Many believe that they are in error over these calculations as they were with CJD, thalidomide, TB, smoking etc. However the system is again employing blocking tactics to prevent public examination. Our authorities have lied over public health matters, kept secret scientific information regarding the causes of disease, delayed taking action to protect the public and are unnecessarily allowing increases in exposure to hazardous substances against the advice of world health professionals.
To restore our trust in our problem solving systems requires a revolution in thinking. Reconnecting with God's forever truths requires our church leaders to repackage the message to tackle 21st century issues. It requires our political leaders to re-engage with the electorate and genuinely put people first. It requires those in authority to correct their rules and practices to reflect these new understandings. The first step in this revolution in thinking requires our leaders to tackle the problem of disease generation. Our MPs must do what is right and call on our authorities to tell the truth, allow scientific investigation, give honest information and allow us choice.
Jeremy Ricketts, Old Park Lane, Farnham