THE calamity of the municipal bankruptcy of Detroit, a debt of about $20 billion, was not the first in America – New York itself and about 60 other authorities have been in the same position over the last 50 years. Detroit's position was brought about by industrial decline, neglect, corruption, incompetence, and continually borrowing to pay current debts.

The Democratic party ruling since the 1960s with no effective opposition was, and is, a recipe for disaster when excessive spending and borrowing becomes a way of life.

Could it happen here, and at what level, and has it already happened?  We have an overburdened NHS, massive immigration, unnecessary wars, housing and job shortages, an unfair tax system, and an energy shortage looming.

How much of this can be laid at the door of the administrations of Thatcher/Major and Blair/Brown?

We have seen councils amalgamate and cutting jobs to save money. Monmouthshire forecast a funding gap of £9 million for next year, and Gloucestershire may have similar difficulties  but we are never told in detail why there is never enough money.

Is it just government continually reducing the grants or can we learn something from Detroit and its problems?

– Cllr Roy Birch, LibDem, Tidenham, Forest of Dean Council.