In a lively edition of the Guardian's letters page, readers have offered radical alternatives to the proposed four-day working week, delivered sharp critiques of international politics, and shared humorous observations on modern life.
A Calendrical Revolution: The Case for a 10-Day Week
Responding to recent reports of growing support for a four-day week in English schools, one reader from Cumbria has suggested a more dramatic overhaul. Ruth Guthrie of Brigham proposes a 10-day week, where individuals would work for seven days and then enjoy a three-day weekend.
Guthrie argues this system would boost the economy by extracting an extra day's production from the workforce while consistently providing workers with a long break. Under this model, a standard 30-day month would contain three of these new weeks, with a few days left over—a structure not dissimilar to our current calendar. She even suggests a national competition to name the three new weekdays, viewing it as a welcome distraction.
International Affairs: Accusations of Piracy
The letters also turned to global politics, with sharp commentary on former US President Donald Trump. Wal Callaby from Suffolk connected Trump's racist remarks about Somali people, made at a rally on 10 December, with contemporary US foreign policy.
Callaby pointedly noted that on the very day Trump claimed the only thing Somalis were "good at is going after ships," US troops were involved in seizing a tanker carrying Venezuelan oil. The reader's concise verdict: "Piracy is piracy, no matter who does it."
Musings on Modern Life
Other correspondents tackled diverse issues with wit and brevity. Reacting to news that some GCSEs and A-levels in England could be taken on laptops by 2030, Gillian Bassett of Bedfordshire suggested renewed investment in music services to combat "writing fatigue," quipping that "a few scales and arpeggios never hurt anyone."
In response to a report that a proposed Trump administration plan could require US tourists to reveal five years of social media history, Jane Sutherland from Cambridgeshire wryly asked if a lack of online activity would lead to exclusion.
Finally, Steve Clarke of East Yorkshire distilled existence into four succinct stages: lager, Aga, Saga, gaga.
The Guardian's letters section continues to provide a platform for the public to engage, critique, and propose alternatives to the stories shaping the national conversation.
