Anyone who regularly writes letters today will likely use e-mail. After all, it’s convenient and environmentally- friendly.

However, this has come at a price. Postal services have been cut back, and many local office supplies shops that sold typewriter ribbons, envelopes and paper have closed.

Modern technology has cut vacancies for human workers, of all skill levels, across the board in every industry. In recent years the trend has been towards short-term contracts, without the guaranteed hours or security. That a person will spend some time jobless in today’s world is almost a certainty, even for those with a strong work ethic.

Because of these factors, full employment may never be seen again.

It is time for the Government to realise this, and stop the futile attempt to push people into work that doesn’t exist.

Sections of the media, in a similar fashion, need to end persecution of the jobless, because it is no-one’s fault there are few jobs, not even the Government’s.

Sneering at the unemployed just makes a lot of people feel bad about either themselves or others, depending on which side of the fence they sit on.

The root of this is the perception of the jobless as a burden on the employed, as opposed to a senseless waste of talent.

Common sense suggests that instead of public funds paid to people to be bored, such money would be better invested in those who want to improve their lot through business, education, the arts or sport.

Put simply, Job Seeker’s Allowance needs replacing with Career Development Allowance.

There has been a tendency of jobcentres to get clients into paid work as soon as possible, whereas often training or an unpaid apprenticeship would give better long-term prospects.

It also needs to be understood the true value of voluntary positions can exceed what that person would gain in welfare through being out of paid work – the football coach who takes 20 youngsters off the street, for example.

Fortunately, this country has left behind the religious fundamentalism that still dogs many today.

But the legacy of this still remains in our prejudices regarding what a useful member of society consists of.

A R Wainwright
Upper Fenn Road
Halstead