Brexit and general doom and gloom is partly down to our obsession with money

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In my view, an obsession with profit, earnings and material success ultimately leads to failure (REUTERS)

A number of recent articles in The Independent make for depressing reading, including the visit of Professor Alston to investigate poverty in UK on behalf of the UN, the divergence of UK and Europe over Brexit and the radicalisation of young people.

I believe that one of the reasons for all this is an overemphasis on money, both at an individual and national level. Of course money is important but when considering how our country is performing, the importance of values, a word our current prime minister often uses but fails to demonstrate, has been lost. Like in the US, a country we seem intent on emulating, economic and financial metrics are now the holy grail.

In my view, an obsession with profit, earnings and material success ultimately leads to failure. On the other hand, a focus on fairness, respect, community, happiness and inclusion is much more likely to result in success – including, counterintuitively – financial success.

Alistair Wood
Powys

Who ate all the salad?

With the news that the country is about to run out of lettuce due to the unprecedented levels of salad eating during the heatwave, the question is who will be the first to get a letter in a newspaper explaining why it's all the SNP's fault.

Mark Boyle
Johnstone, Renfrewshire

Don’t forget about the classical music scene in Oxford

How can you possibly write a feature about the top 10 things to do in Oxford without any reference to classical music? It is going on there every day, in many different forms, and the visitor will be missing out if he/she doesn’t experience it. Music at Oxford, the Oxford Lieder Festival, Oxford Bach Soloists, to name some of the professional events; sung evensongs by world famous choirs at colleges including Magdalen, New College and Christ Church; and any number of student concerts every day of the week in term time. The faculty of music houses a great collection of historic instruments, as does the Ashmolean Museum. It is all there, waiting for us.

Sally Dunkley
Oxford

Hillsborough families have waited a long time

Better late than never: former South Yorkshire Police chief superintendent David Duckendive faces 95 manslaughter charges in Preston Crown Court.

Eddie Dougall
Bury St Edmunds

National service is not the answer

In the first instance, national service merely validates the notion of the nation state and, by making it compulsory, the individual is the possession of the state.

That’s not a wise move. At least half of UK citizens will have an issue with that. They aren’t going to cooperate, nor be made to.

However, a new notion of a modern degree at 18, formed of a three-year program of education, languages, projects, structured work experience, possibly military service if chosen, social contribution, travel (showing ability to adapt to a new community) and study is a valid one. This produces experienced, balanced graduates with usefulness, who can be productive on day one.

The downside is that the notion is simply too complicated for populist politicians and tabloids to grasp let alone sell to an electorate exercising an average 11-year-old intellect. Sadly, that’s the problem with all real solutions.

Michael Fletcher
Lodsworth, West Sussex

National service could be the answer

National service might be a good thing. Travelling overseas for business has exposed me to countries and cultures and situations that have made me grateful for being born and growing up where and when I did. Our overseas aid budget could be used in part to expose young people (who might well be post-graduate age) to these things whilst helping others and building positive relationships. This could include any country but it should include time spent in poorer communities.

Michael Mann
Shrewsbury