WE live in confusing and troubled times. The current credit crunch, recession, depression – call it what you will – has hit us all like a brick wall.

Private sector workers have been hit the hardest with lay-offs and redundancies while the public sector increases the number of employees, their salaries and pensions.

Many high streets look like war zones with boarded-up shops and restaurants. Yet still our Government, under Gordon Brown, continues to spend and encourages the people to follow his example. Mr Brown, one simple question: how do you spend your way out of debt when you have no money? That is why we are in a mess now.

Spending money protecting banks and the motor industry because of mismanagement is as bad as giving drink to an alcoholic. Maybe, just maybe, we should let these businesses fail and replace them with efficient operators.

We are on the battlefield of a global economic war.

Government ministers are scurrying about trying to look busy at solving the country’s problems. Meanwhile, we are still hanging on in the hope that they know what they are doing and that their crystal ball works – but there is no Santa Claus, no tooth fairy. The party is over, so get over it and take personal responsibility.

John Waiting, Guisborough, East Cleveland.