Politicians and consequences of decisions

Sir, – Fintan O’Toole’s narrative (“Politicians are in a long-distance relationship with the consequences of their decisions”, Opinion & Analysis, October 15th) about how politicians distance themselves from poor public services is exactly right.

Rather than even attempt the longer-term, but vital, task of injecting badly needed vision, ambition and accountability into the senior levels of the public services, politicians prefer to direct our attention towards giveaway budgets: the bread and circuses of the 21st century.

Sadly, I see no signs that things will change here anytime soon.

Anyone who wants European-style public services, and who is willing to pay the taxes needed to underpin those services, probably needs to transfer themselves to a modern European country. – Yours, etc,