David Bieber had forfeited his right to freedom by depriving an innocent man of his life.

He is indeed fortunate to be alive and we, the taxpayers, are paying a fortune for him to have that privilege. He should be counting his blessings.

Have we lost the ability to say, "No, enough is enough"? We seem to be running around in circles trying to placate everyone, terrified of offending anyone.

What is the matter with us? There is no respect for tolerance which has become weakness.

It's time the silent majority became vocal. We know people power works.

Is there anyone out there who has a definition for "human rights"? I can't find one.

Mine is simple – the right to live in freedom, without persecution.

The term is now used as a means of people getting what they want.

It is being abused. In fact, it's just another case of the tail wagging the dog.

Inheritance tax must go

From: Peter A Rushforth, Sutton Drive, Cullingworth.

JG Riseley (Yorkshire Post, May 2) writes about the injustice of the Burden sisters losing their appeal to avoid inheritance tax.

Of course, it would be more sensible if inheritance tax was abolished altogether. It is the most cruel tax of all.

The person who has never saved but has spent his money on alcohol, cigarettes and foreign holidays is given lots of benefits by the Government on retirement.

On the other hand, the person who has been careful and put money away for his/her old age gets no benefits and then on death their estate is subjected to a 40 per cent tax.

If inheritance tax was done away with, the Government would still benefit because the beneficiaries would pay VAT on most purchases and any money invested in banks and building societies would benefit the economy and tax would be paid on any interest earned.

A world in decline

From: Dr David Hill, World Innovation Foundation, Huddersfield.

THERE are people in this world who just do not want to know about the bad things in this life, and what the future holds for humankind.

Therefore, world leaders will have to become more realistic in what the world will be like in a mere four decades from now and take their heads out of the sand before they finally realise that it is far too late to do anything about it.

If the oil crisis is anything to go by, where they have known that oil has been running out since the 1960s with no pre-planning being put in place whatsoever for this eventual dire problem, I give no confidence at all that they will avert a world consumed by conflict, famine and a constantly degenerating standard of life for humans, particularly in the West where we are now in socio-economic decline.

Therefore, it is time that our political classes really did get their heads out of the sand and understood the reality of what the future world holds under their present unintelligent decision-making process.

Church failings

From: David Treacher, Wilton Street, Hull.

THE falling number of members in the congregation of Anglican churches is of concern, and something must be done.

But the dropping is not through old age always and modernisation is needed and new ideas, with a change of leadership.

In many churches the same people have held office, such as church wardens, treasurers, secretary and PCC members, for years and many have seen several vicars off with no change of direction. Many
have more than one job at that church.

This practice does not give newcomers any chance to give their views and contribute and many newcomers after a while leave.

To get the best effect it might be prudent to only allow members of the Church to stand for office for maybe two years and to be strict about that.

It would give more members of the congregation a chance to change direction and bring in new ideas and maybe move with the times in the Church world and contribute.

Otherwise more churches will lose members and they might close.