Keynes's central insight was that economies were cyclically unstable. He believed the state should try to stabilise economic activity by means of fiscal policy - with the implication that public revenues and expenditure should balance over the course...

The capitalist system has trapped us all in a vicious circle in which insatiability of demand has become an economic imperative, the alternative being collapse of production and loss of jobs. Hence the rumour is that the Koreans may flood the world w...

The EOC will not be advising the Government next month that the Sex Discrimination Act could be amended to allow parties to give priority to women. Our view is that the law is unclear and, even if the SDA is amended, it will not remove the possibilit...

May an uninvolved bystander merely mention the old saying "you can always tell a Yorkshireman, but you can't often tell him very much". Sadly, this frequently appears to be true. GEOFFREY ELLIS Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

JULY '98. World Cup in full swing in France. Scotland knocked out by losing 6-5 to Jamaica, after leading 5-0 with 10 minutes to go. Scottish manager Craig Brown says: "It's the same old story. We have only ourselves to blame. We had it for the takin...

The lad did what many other UK people do each day - pass a small amount of cannabis to someone who wants it. The annoying thing is that the cost, both economic and to police time, will all come out of the public pocket. To what end? Punishing someone...

Obviously, had any member of the Cabinet ever inhaled, they would not be doing the good works that they are now, such as swiping money from lone mothers. Instead they would be kicking their doors down to nick their videos. Had any tabloid journalists...

The simple truth is that our system of welfare does not work. It does not deliver help to those most in need. It does not help us fight the war on poverty. And it has lost sight of the values upon which it was founded. Responsibility, independence, d...

Sir: The main problem with taxation as a means of combating pollution, congestion and similar nuisances ("The questionable credentials of green taxes", 29 December) is that governments become dependent on the revenue it raises. They therefore acquire...

Sir: Our professional experience shows that one of the crucial lessons from the new Birmingham research ("Violent videos don't provoke young people. Violence does", 29 December) is that there is no "quick fix" for this social problem. Above all, a na...

Sir: Your article "Rooms at the Ritz cheaper than places in child jails" (30 December) leads me to suggest that the Home Office should extract a weekly payment from the parents of the children in these new jails. It would only be a token sum but why ...

Sir: It states very clearly in the Bible that the wise men visited Jesus in a house (Matthew ch2 v11), not a stable (Meanings of Christmas, 29 and 30 December). Why on earth would a couple with a new baby want to remain in an insalubrious stable any ...

Sir: While having a clear-out of old papers, I came across a Labour Party policy document from about September 1996, which promises "Women will benefit from a range of our policies including . . . support for single- parent families". ALLAN DEEDS Dav...

It is the turn-of-the-year interregnum, a time for calm reflection with mature and philosophically-disposed associates. Which is why we find ourselves in this pleasant bar, 10 of us, at 1.15 in the rainy night-time. Michael the accordion player - hav...