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I know that it is pointless to suggest to ideologues like David Marsland (THES, August 4) that calls for the re-application of right-wing policies - "smaller government, less taxes . . . et al" - ought to be the cause of righteous national outrage.

After 16 years of relentless assault on all but a small privileged elite in our society, his impersonation of a cracked record endlessly repeating the same liturgy of obnoxious policies has two primary aims. In any other forum its function would be to sustain the outstandingly successful propaganda campaign to persuade the public of the worthiness of selfishness and spite and the need for continued care-of-the-wealthy. However, his letter's intention is surely no more than to irritate weary egalitarians like me.

If you gently remind them that 16 years of these simian policies have brought the country to its knees, the new right merely argue that the Government has not been sufficiently determined, and that the same policies must be re-applied, only more rigorously - all regulation should be removed, and Government should be allowed to wither. Is it time to alert the public that the Government is under serious threat from anarchists?

JOHN RAMSAY

Princes Road, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent