Readers' letters

People are asking why, out of a population of 320 million, can the American public not come up with something better than Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton to stand for the American presidency?

A major problem is finance, you need to be extremely wealthy with wealthy backers to climb to the top in American politics. A concern is that of the 231 million eligible to vote, 100 million didn’t bother to.

There is a history of people who come into politics promising to change the world, but in reality the world changes them. We live in a democracy but it is a limited one that favours the rich against the rest of us.

The late Quintin Hogg referred to it as an ‘elective dictatorship’. The US presidential elections go some way to proving that theory.

John Appleyard via email

health

Be aware of symptoms

Some of your readers will know only too well that only five per cent of people with pancreatic cancer in England will live for five or more years after diagnosis. This Thursday is World Pancreatic Cancer Day, and tragically across the globe, 985 people will die of the disease on that day. Yet if more people were aware of the potential symptoms, which include tummy pain that can spread to the back, significant and unexplained weight loss, yellow skin or eyes, and indigestion, more people could be diagnosed earlier. And we know the earlier people are diagnosed, the higher their chances of being able to have surgery, which could save their life. Visit www.worldpancreaticcancerday.org/getinvolved/

Dianne Dobson

Pancreatic Cancer UK Nurse Specialist

society

Problem of the homeless


Walking through Wigan yesterday, I counted 10 people living homeless, huddled up together with hardly any warm clothing. I’ve spoken to two councillors who said that money was down to Central Government and there was little our council could do.

Some of these people asked for money which I refused, but offered to buy them food and hot drink. It’s like we live in a third world country. It’s time something was one about this dire housing crisis of ours.

D Williams,

Winstanley

charity

Turn stamps into funds

I am appealing for used postage stamps which help me raise funds which I donate to the Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Recycling used postage stamps is such an easy way to raise money and I am always in need of all types of postage stamps. If you are able to help, I would be grateful if you could cut the stamps from envelopes (leaving a 1cm margin) and send them to this address.

Myrna Chave

PO Box 91

Virginia Water, Surrey

GU25 9AR

politics

Wait and see

There is much speculation about what the election of Donald Trump will mean to various people in the US. While I can understand their anxiety, I think ‘wait and see’ is the order of the day. He has to take Congress with him if he is to make any progress with his plans and they are not all fools who will follow him to the end of the earth.

Peter Hyde

Address supplied