Why price wars and biometric ID cards threaten our values

WITH Eddie Hobbs’ stance on the price of groceries and Michael McDowell’s biometric ID cards for non-nationals, it is hard to tell who is the greater threat to this country’s values.

Mr Hobbs’ prices campaign threatens the destruction of local choice. His encouragement to consumers to switch from Dunnes Stores to Tesco (Irish Examiner, September 7) will only increase the dominance of these supermarkets in the grocery sector.

Only large supermarket chains can afford to cut prices dramatically and any ensuing price war will decimate the small retailer.

This limits choice as most consumers tend to shop for daily groceries in their immediate locality while the demise of other outlets leads to a de facto monopoly for individual chains in certain areas (as has happened in the UK) and only strengthens a national oligopoly of five large retailers.

This restricts the opportunity for local companies to sell new products locally as they must instead negotiate with distant retailers for distribution, and so over time this process impedes the arrival and growth of new products and competition. Larger firms are also less responsive to the individual consumer’s needs compared with smaller businesses which rely on positive word-of-mouth.

What little we gain from short-term price reductions in these supermarkets ignores the fact that their bargains only benefit those who can access them.

As public transport is sparse in this country, the demise of local shops and choice impacts strongly on disadvantaged urban communities, rural dwellers and the elderly as they must either trek to the large supermarket or not shop at all.

As for Mr McDowell’s scheme for non-nationals to be obliged to carry biometric ID cards at all times, this will only serve to paint the country as reactionary and damage its reputation among those abroad who work and do business here.

A two-tier society will be defined by those who must carry a biometric ID card and those who must not. In the longer term it may even lead to the introduction of obligatory ID cards for all through the back door.

The simplistic, populist arguments of Messrs McDowell and Hobbs are potentially damaging to the essential values of this country — that all residents are equal and that everyone is entitled to choice in their locality.

We are ‘dancing with the devil’ by permitting a price-orientated, control-obsessed society.

The ending of the groceries order has not led to an overall reduction in prices; rather it has hastened the demise of local shops and made us ever more reliant on a limited number of bland chain stores.

Obligatory ID cards will never lead to a significant reduction in crime — only increased investment in disadvantaged communities and in the gardaí can achieve that.

Kenneth Baker

Rossmore

Clonakilty

Co Cork