THERE is a very simple answer to Dr Delia Parnham-Cope’s question of why we have such a poor public transport system.

It is the same answer as to the question of why we allow the health and education services to decay, and why we house vulnerable people in potentially dangerous high rise flats.

The answer is money - more specifically the idea that money is more important than people.

This is the capitalist ideology that has driven our society for the past half century or more.

It is the ideology that led to Dr Beeching closing so many local stations in the 1960s.

Now we are beginning to see its deadly effects on our community.

The results of the last election show that increasing numbers are beginning to question the hegemony of capitalism, as happened in 1945.

Theresa May is fond of saying that more people voted Conservative than voted Labour.

Unfortunately, those opposed to May voted for a variety of parties, having a variety of priorities.

The Conservatives have only one priority - money, which is why the country is now in such a mess.

Perhaps now we may start to put people first?

Mary Brown

Stroud