Letter to the i: Disrespecting the Queen

Michael Pickett's letter accused a man who was wearing a baseball cap of being more disrespectful to the Queen than a woman in sunglasses.  Well I believe something else trumps even that level of disrespect. Specifically, the Queen keeping the position of Head of State as her family's personal property, without any electoral mandate to speak of.  Surely this disrespects the very democratic principles we are meant to stand for as a nation?

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the i: Democracy in Africa

Ian Birrell's observation about the mood in Africa being like the Arab Spring seems as much cautionary as optimistic.  African democracy activists will have to learn to become more resilient and stand up for themselves.  The US is currently governed by a President who supports strongmen and is cutting US State Department support for democracy activists all over the world.  Our country is too immersed in picking fights with it's closest trading partners to help them.  Perhaps the best piece of advice we can give to Africans is to make sure their institutions and their civil societies are robust enough to keep their leaders in check.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the i: US Gun Rights

Yet again we have another sad and preventable US school shooting. I have become convinced that the US Second Amendment should only cover weapons that existed in the period in which it was written.  Surely single shot rifles or muskets would be adequate for personal defence?  The assault rifle used in this attack is adapted from a military platoon killing weapon.  Surely if you are so unpopular that you get attacked in such numbers, it would be advisable to work on your social skills?  Or maybe it is time to admit that the Second Amendment is less to do with self defence and more to do with boys and their toys?

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Foreign Aid Spending

I concur with Matthew Norman's article concerning foreign aid spending.  However in this toxic environment for foreign aid spending it may be more effective to argue in favour of foreign aid to appeal to the concerns of it's opponents.  Most of the opponents of foreign aid are concerned about immigration and refugees.  It could be pointed out to them that if countries with struggling economies are given assistance, less of their countrymen may seek to come over here.  There is no sense in expressing altruistic arguments to those who are deaf to them.

Regards

Zachary Barker

Bristol

Letter to the I: Inconvenient Terrorists

It is no wonder the Home Secretary Amber Rudd is having trouble pardoning the convictions of Suffragettes.  Many of the actions they took in desperation to advance their cause can accurately be described as terrorism.  Such actions included arson and even an attempt to burn down former PM David Lloyd-George's house.  Maybe this would give us good cause to move away from the tired narrative of saying all "terrorists" are evil.  We should be frank that those who fight for their rights have some courage and should be respected.  While those who cause violence for it's own sake or to oppress others should be vilified.

Regards

Zachary Barker