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Why combat something that can't be stopped?
From: SU Ruff, Gowland Court, Ogleforth, York. FURTHER to the hare-brained scheme you featured on the front page (Yorkshire Post, June 6), let's get back to basics – in the wise words of Margaret Beckett: "If Britain burned not another pound of carbon-based fuel it would make no significant difference to the rate of climate change."
Britain's total output of carbon dioxide is less than three per cent of the global total. Of that UK output, only 20 per cent is industry generated (and of that 20 per cent less than a third is generated in Yorkshire) – the rest mostly comes from domestic heating and transport. So we are talking about spending 30bn in order to absorb less than 0.2 per cent of the global output of carbon dioxide, using an energy intensive process which will unnecessarily create lots more carbon dioxide.
There is the quite risible underlying sub-plot that other states and their populations will pay heed to some pointless action undertaken by the British and this will somehow enhance the economy in
the UK.
I do not even want to enter the arguments about "carbon trading".
However, 30bn spent on the drainage infrastructure in Yorkshire might make Hull, Sheffield and Doncaster (and Hebden Bridge and Malton) flood proof. The same sum, alternatively, could significantly increase nuclear power capacity, freeing us from the hegemony of the oil producers.
Let us not waste resources on trying to influence the
rate of progress of an unstoppable cosmic event; let us, instead, make sure we use our resources to prepare for the likely consequences –
which may not, after all, be all bad for countries in our latitudes.
Nor should we forget that the world population is doubling every 40 years. This is, perhaps, the most potent threat to the environment. Perhaps this is what we should be concentrating on.
Archbishop takes plunge for ill-served heroes
From: J Hargreaves, Manchester Road, Sheffield.
The Archbishop of York's fund-raising efforts on behalf of injured soldiers (Yorkshire Post, June 7) are an example to all. It is a disgrace that so many soldiers who suffer serious injuries are not receiving the treatment they need. Until the Government meets the true cost of war, including catering for those who are injured and the families of those killed, more fund-raising of this nature will have to become the norm.
Identity crisis on the cards for ordinary people
From: BJ Cussons, Curly Hill, Ilkley.
OF all the issues confronting us today the imposition of a national identity card scheme is the most important – and the most dangerous.
Currently, innocent victims of identity theft are learning how difficult it is to replace their credit status.
It is obvious, too, that criminals are well abreast
and even ahead of all the cautionary (and inconvenient) actions we all have to take.
Recently, various victims of personal details lost through the carelessness or efficiency of government agency personnel are waiting to see what will happen if their details are in the wrong hands and being worked on to steal their identity.
All these concerns pale into insignificance in comparison
to the fact that misuse or stealing of identity card information will effectively steal our lives from us.The priority is fighting terrorism
From: David Quarrie, Lynden Way, Holgate, York.
I VERY rarely agree with our Government but on the matter of the proposed extending of 28 to 42 days detention period, I fully support their policy.
It may not yet have been necessary to use more than
28 days to gather enough evidence to charge terrorists or other evil folk, but it will be so in the future.
We are at war with Islamic fundamentalists, they make even the IRA look relatively harmless. Their aims and methods are totally ruthless, they take few prisoners. Their "skill" and cunning and sophistication is improving all the time, and we need to be one jump ahead of them to survive.
Some of the Lib Dem and Green and Conservative opposition is purely opportunistic – if any of them were the Government they would be suggesting far tougher solutions and remedies. The number one job of a government is to keep its people safe. There are enough safeguards in this new Bill to stop innocent people from being locked up without trial or charge for 42 days.
I hope it becomes law and if necessary is used to defeat our enemies.
Freedoms sadly lost
From: Terry Duncan, Greame Road, Bridlington.
WHENCE has the democracy I was born into 67 years ago gone?
Now we have an unelected leader who is determined to condone the rights being removed from the law-abiding citizens of what was once a great nation.
It seems every move I will make, even taking my rubbish to the local tip, or leaving it in my bin will be monitored.
Likewise, every time I take my car on to the road, if I can afford the petrol, it will be spied on by a CCTV camera.
Then when I renew my passport, at great expense, all my details will be downloaded into a central computer along with the UK's most detested criminals.
If something is wrong with me entering or leaving the country, because of some flaw in my documentation, I could be arrested and held for six weeks in some secret prison without being charged with any offence.
Whence has the freedom of Great Britain gone?
Pensioner power
From: Don Burslam, Elm Road, Dewsbury Moor, Dewsbury.
THE backroom boys behind Labour have twigged that, as the population ages, the pensioners' vote is becoming more and more important. Hence the titanic mountain of meaningless verbiage about care of the elderly. The snag is everyone knows the Government has no intention of paying for it.
The received wisdom when it comes to any spending commitment is "we can't afford it". This should be challenged a lot more than it is.
For instance, the pension links with earnings, abolished in 1980, is being restored at an indeterminate date. As the proportion of the elderly is increasing inescapably, how will this be afforded in the future when it couldn't be before?
I believe that cancellation of ID cards and winding down of the Iraq war will free up substantial sums.
Reducing the enormous cost of consultants and quangos, and a cull of senior civil servants, would yield further savings. How about reducing diplomatic representation to match our low status?
All that is needed is the will.
Measure for measure
From: Allan Davies, Heathfield Court, Grimsby, NE Lincs.
FURTHER to "Millions scared of doing sums" (Yorkshire Post, June 6). This came as no surprise.
I wonder how many readers are aware that when, first, decimal coinage, and, later, VAT were introduced, local FE colleges ran short courses to help the general public? These courses showed that there was a very poor grasp of fundamentals. Few of those attending, and most were in their 40s and 50s, had any real grasp of decimals, fractions
and percentages.
Earlier, when the aircraft industry grew as re-armament began in the late '30s, many shopfloor engineers brought up on halves, quarters, eighths and so on, had great difficulty in converting these measures to thousands of an inch.
The problem, I am afraid, is cultural and has deep roots.
A farcical penal system
From: Barrie Frost, Watson's Lane, Reighton, Filey.
BRITAIN has abolished both capital and corporal punishments.
Deterrents for criminal behaviour are confined to fines, community services and prison sentences.
Even when a crime is successfully prosecuted, which is becoming less frequent, and a fine is imposed, these are often so derisory they encourage rather than deter criminal behaviour. Those who avoid paying road tax, vehicle insurance, television licences etc find in the unlikely event of being caught that they receive such a puny fine it makes non-compliance a risk well worth taking and as too many fines simply are unpaid it makes this even more attractive.
Has anyone ever witnessed community service being done? Is it an infringement of the offender's human rights for the public to be made
aware of this?
For the more serious crime there is the ultimate deterrent – a prison sentence. This deterrent must surely strike fear into the criminal – or does it?
Well no, not really. Prison provides free and better conditions than many of us can afford. Why is it that the woolly-brained people in authority cannot see what millions of us can see that Britain's present penal and justice systems are a total farce and a complete and horrendously expensive mess?
Paying for the improvident
From: RC Curry, Adel Grange Close, Leeds.
AT a time when the Prime MInister and Home Secretary are doing their best to destroy the centuries-old hard-won freedom of individuals granted by Magna Carta, what do we have to excite our minds? Free swimming!
Don't these misguided politicians realise that nothing is free. This will be paid for by those people in the country who honestly pay their taxes; and many of these are not rich, but just ordinary hard working citizens who are fed up with paying for the improvident.
This is just another example of the inadequate quality of those who try to lead our country.
Boarded-up houses
From: Godfrey Bloom, UKIP MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, Main Street, Wressle, Selby.
I AM appalled at the ignorance of my region from Caroline Flint when she speaks of the need for new eco-towns (Yorkshire Post, June 9).
May I take advantage of your pages to beg her to come with me to Hull, Pontefract, Grimsby and Goole to see perfectly good semi-detached houses boarded up as far as the eye can see.
How can mainstream politicians be so out of touch?
Loss of dignity
From: Martin Crowson, Market Place, Leyburn.
THE spectacle of Shadow Chancellor George Osborne
and others defending Tory chairman Caroline Spelman for using public cash to pay the family nanny is nothing short of stomach churning.
For many of us, of whatever political persuasion, it is this shameless denial of wrong-doing that most angers us, while they appear oblivious to their own loss of dignity.
Praying fora 'No' vote
From: John Watson, Hutton Hill, Leyburn.
THE more I read about the wretched EU gravy train, especially the latest fiasco
about a Tory MEP and the misuse of his expense
account, the less I want to be part of it.
This week the Irish are having a referendum on this issue and I am hoping and praying that there is a big 'No' vote.
Heads above the water
From: Ken Holmes, Cliffe Common, Selby, York.
AT my age, I would much prefer that, instead of giving me free swimming lessons, this topsy-turvy Government would stick to its promises and strengthen our flood defences.
So much of a muchness
From: Ian Price, Dronfield.
I WAS interested in Tim Mickleburgh's comparison of Barack Obama with Tony Blair (Yorkshire Post, June 9). Vague, talking of change, unwilling to say what he's going to do and appealing to white-collar middle-class voters.
How easily one could replace either name with David Cameron. It's an epidemic.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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