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Let's put our prospective MPs to the test
From: Arthur Quarmby, Holme, Holmfirth. FROM all sides, I hear expressions of disillusion and dissatisfaction with the political process and with politicians of all parties. There is a perceived need of some new way of representing the wishes of the population.
In some countries, the answer would be a military coup, but we tried the military dictatorship a long time ago and found it wanting.
Part of a solution might perhaps be in the selection of our representatives.
Currently, the job of MP is the only one for which one needs neither experience nor ability. Should prospective MPs be required to go through some form of examination and aptitude test, law-making maybe improved as a consequence.
That way at least the Prime Minister would once more revert to being a negotiator rather than the virtual dictator which he has recently become.
On the other hand, I have far more respect for the common sense of the average voter than I have for MPs who retain utter confidence in the rightness of their decisions, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Politicians have shown quite clearly that they are very frightened of the referendum – because it is as likely as not that the public will give the "wrong" reply, as the only opportunity to hit back at the rulers.
Switzerland (which had the great good sense to stay out of two World Wars and the EU) and California use referenda quite freely in order to respond to the wishes of their populations, and what democrat could possibly object to that?
Surely it would be worth a try? Is there any better idea, or are we by now too lacking in courage or conviction to contemplate change?
Do we prefer to moan and groan about things, because actually to do something would involve both thought and effort?
Recklessness as tractors sped to work
From: Paul Gosney, Main Street, Bishop Monkton, Harrogate.
I HAVE lived in the small village of Bishop Monkton near Ripon for 26 years. One evening last week, local contractors moved in to harvest forage wheat for a local dairy farmer complete with large tractors and trailers speeding through the centre of the village from field to farm and back.
On route, these tractors, driven by young men, needed to pass one of the local pubs, situated on a T junction, where early evening customers were sitting outside enjoying a beverage.
The tractor drivers seemed to be playing to the audience, the more people watching and commenting among themselves on the speed and the danger these tractors were posing, the faster they attempted to negotiate the junction. They would have been more at home at Silverstone.
The pub landlord phoned the contractor to express our concerns only to be asked if he had seen the weather forecast, told he must be "one of those townies" then the phone was put down on him.
I have been involved in farming for 45 years, I understand that harvesting is dependent on weather "windows".
However, this does not excuse their recklessness. To slow down would not have delayed the tractors by one minute arriving at either field or farm, but would have meant the village was a safer place.
Alternatives for drivers
From: Jeff Pearey, Director – Head of Leeds Office, Jones Lang LaSalle, St Paul's House, Park Square, Leeds.
I REFER to your article (Yorkshire Post, July 16) "Congestion cash could herald road charging" about the prospect of road congestion charging in Leeds following the successful bid by local city transport chiefs for Government money to research ways of cutting traffic.
Like any other car-borne commuter, I would be concerned about road
charging in the absence of investment in other travel services.
And if our cities like Leeds gets C-Charging ahead of other regional centres (Manchester is having a public referendum; Edinburgh came close; Cambridge was considering it), this could be detrimental to Yorkshire's competitiveness in the longer term.
Motorists must have a genuine alternative if we are to tackle road congestion. The long term growth of the city region is dependant on the population having access to a first class public transport system.
Investment in our public transport is critical, but previous disappointments with initiatives such as the Supertram illustrate that this is a delicate matter that will require careful exploration and consideration, before any long term decisions are made.
Sold short by the pubs
From: M Toft, Windsor Avenue, Silsden.
WITH regard to selling beer in metric glasses (Yorkshire Post, August 7) readers may have noticed that in more and more pubs beer drinkers are getting about 10 per cent less in their glass, because of the big heads that landlords are putting on to every pint.
Since a pint is 568ml, that means drinkers are getting just 500ml, half a litre. A nice perk, but illegal, of course. Unofficial metrication, and of course the landlord still takes the money for a pint. This is happening even in London, where traditionally the beer should be flat. Perhaps the Campaign for Real Ale should be worrying about this rather than what the price of a pint may or may not be in 2012.
I do seem to remember that Tony Blair's 1997 manifesto promised pint glasses marked with a line. Guaranteeing 100 per cent liquid, excluding the froth head. Another Labour broken promise.
Unhealthy regulation
From: Dr Bob Heys, Bar Lane, Ripponden, Sowerby Bridge.
MEMBERS of the public in Yorkshire and elsewhere, are currently being urged by the Department of Health to volunteer for service on the Local Involvement Networks (LINKS) now being established to replace the NHS monitoring and advisory services formerly provided by the recently abolished Patient and Public Involvement in Heath (PPIH) Forums.
Public spirited individuals thinking of responding to such appeals should bear in mind that, as I discovered to my cost as a PPIH Forum chairman, membership of such "public authorities" will debar them from the help and support of the Ombudsman service should they have cause for complaint regarding the activities of their local NHS Trust.
This insidious regulation should surely be withdrawn.Law is an ass over photographer's case
From: David Bell, West Street, Barnetby.
IS the law an ass? One might think so, from two stories in the Yorkshire Post (August 6).
Wood chisels, Kent Police tell us, with photographs, are weapons.
Perhaps so, they can be used as weapons, as can most things, but why put an ordinary tool at the front, ahead of some rather more obvious hardware? Are they trying to give people ideas? When will my Swiss Army Knife be enough to get me arrested?
And then there is the flower fairy case in Sheffield. We have laws on child porn which encompass models old enough to lawfully marry, which we have been told are meant to catch really bad people, and they get applied to this. What startles me is that the photographer, Dr Marcus Phillips, is in court, yet apparently the parents, who gave permission and, you report, were present when the photographs were taken, have not been charged.
Was this case to protect children, or was it brought to scare photographers, who seem to be the target for so much official and quasi-official suspicion?
From: Trevor Mumford, St Giles Close, Thirsk, North Yorkshire.
I ASSUME that I am only one of the the many Yorkshire Post readers who will sleep more easily in their beds tonight safe in the knowledge after reading of the prosecution of a university lecturer for having, at the request and in the presence of the children's parents, taken photographs of two young girls, that crime has been conquered to the extent that the police, Crown Prosecution Service and the Judiciary have the time and resources to be able to proceed with so ludicrous a case.
May I anticipate that my income and council taxes will be reduced, as it is obvious that these expensive resources are now superfluous to requirements and may safely be disbanded?
Safety belts simply add to dangers facing motorists
From: BJ Cussons, Curly Hill, Ilkley.
AS one of the grumpy elderly who tried to delay the introduction of compulsory seat belts for years (Yorkshire Post, August 1), I still resent this introduction of legislation to protect us, rather than implementation of legislation against those who offend with speed and dangerous driving.
Strangely, the penalties against those who do not wear safety belts seem worse or more likely of implementation than those who drive with a phone in their hands, patently distracted by their conversation and diverted thought processes.
Can that be right?
Since then, it has been notable – certainly in the last 10 years – that more (expensive to produce) legislation has been directed against middle England than against criminals. Compare the man smoking in his own van with the 31,500 offending prisoners released to create space in gaols.
My other reasons for fighting that legislation are safety ones. I am still frightened at the thought of being trapped in my car in an accident, especially if water was involved. Secondly, I felt there was danger regarding cancer of the breast. Social changes mean that more women than ever drive and the illness has soared. Has anyone ever studied if there is a co-relation?
Nearly every day you publish useless academic surveys on subjects which anyone with a grain of commonsense would have realised in the university of life. Could this be studied?
From: Alan W Briglin, Sefton Street, Hull.
READING the article (Yorkshire Post, July 28) about drivers and their bad habits leads me to reiterate that, in my view, speeding adds a lot to avoidable accidents.
Not only do drivers have less time to react to a dangerous situation, many of the speeding drivers I have seen appear to have the reaction ability of a sloth.
"Tailgating" is another bad habit which many drivers indulge in. When I get one of these idiots within a few feet of my back-end, I just slowly reduce my speed to try to maintain a safe distance between me and the one behind. It seems to me that the object of "tailgating" is to make the driver in front increase speed. When they get the message that it is not working, they either pull back or overtake as soon as possible. Penalties for bad driving should be a lot more severe.
A waste of our billions
From: Peter Mahoney, Reawla Hayle, Cornwall.
IT is beyond my socialist belief to learn that Gordon Brown's Government has seen fit to pour another additional sum of 3bn of taxpayers' money (Yorkshire Post, August 5) into a "private" commercial business company – Northern Rock. I completely fail to comprehend the thinking behind this benevolent dispensation of money which does not belong to Prime Minister or his lunatic party.
Do they all really think that it will win them votes come the next General Election or that this one "building society"' will prove to be some long term "golden goose" public investment that will repay with much interest the vast sums this Government has endowed it with? How much more prudent to deploy these billions to freeze all the current domestic consumer suppliers' charges for both gas and electricity.
Pensions meltdown
From: Myles Hartley, Tern Park, Collingham, Wetherby.
I ENJOYED reading Ros Altmann's article covering the pension crisis (Yorkshire Post, August 7), especially her reference to public sector workers who are "immune from such problems, but taxpayers will face mounting funding pressures in future".
You don't have to be an actuary to realise the public sector schemes can not be funded in the longer term. When this occurs, the seismic event will have an impact on the established order similar to the dissolution of the monasteries.
Just the job
From: Terry Askew, Kendal Drive, Bolton-upon-Dearne, near Rotherham.
IN his letter (Yorkshire Post, August 6), Terry Duncan asks who would offer Gordon Brown a job when he gets fired by his party or country? I will answer the question for him. I would think if John Major, Jeffrey Archer, Jonathan Aitken, Cecil Parkinson, Edwina Currie and Maggie Thatcher, all members of the last Tory government, could find employment after leaving office, I'm sure that Gordon Brown will not have much difficulty finding work.
Play times
From: Rodney Gordon Cartwright, West Avenue, Filey.
AS someone who in the past has criticised Jayne Dowle, can I say a big hip hip hooray for her sensible ideas on children's play (Yorkshire Post, August 7)? As someone who grew up in the 1940s and 1950s going to mum with a cut or a graze and having iodine splashed on it, you never went back again.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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