January 16 Letters: Naive not to see a German plot to rule

From: Arthur Quarmby, Underhill, Holme.

I AM pleased for Mr Hodgson of Leyburn (The Yorkshire Post, January 10) that he is enjoying all the many benefits of EU membership, but otherwise his point of view of that organisation as a beacon of peace and prosperity is sadly misplaced – even verging on the naive.

He chooses to overlook the undemocratic, unaccountable nature of the organisation itself and its insatiable lust for expansion – indeed some might say that Germany has concluded that its European empire dream can more readily be achieved by peaceful means rather than by failed warfare.

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Some of us have noticed how the member states of the EU are gradually placing their armed forces under direct German control, and that powerful elements within are pushing ever eastwards; having absorbed all the Baltic states the target now is clearly Russia. Again.

A new Cold War is on the agenda, with Nato and EU forces “exercising” along the borders of Eastern Ukraine. No wonder President Putin is jumpy; his country is clearly threatened by 
EU expansion. “Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set.” Indeed.

From: D Wood, Howden.

REGARDING the letter by Gerald Hodgson (The Yorkshire Post, January 10), he misses a number of points. Once free of the German dictatorship that is the EU, Britain has no need to join the EEA as Norway has done. A simple free trade agreement would do the job with no EU laws or rules attached.

The EU is a dying institution with seven of its members all but bankrupt and its share of our trade shrinking by the month, our economic future lies in the world outside the EU in the expanding markets like China, Brazil, and India.

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Mr Hodgson then goes on to mention the latest EU myth that it has prevented wars, this is total bunkum. Nato is responsible for keeping the peace in Europe, not the EU which has only existed since the Maastricht Treaty. In fact the EU, with its constant wish to expand has actually caused a civil war in the Ukraine; there was no trouble there until the EU started trying to get them to join.

The EU is not about democracy. it isn’t even about European Union. It is about “Germany being allowed to run Europe without being seen to do so”, a statement made by Helmut Kohl in an unguarded moment.

Too many
career MPs

From: Chris Giddings, Springwood Drive, Halifax.

I QUITE agree with the sentiments of the articles written by Tom Richmond and Andrew Vine (The Yorkshire Post, January 13).

There are far too many career politicians in Parliament today, from all colours of the spectrum which in my opinion is one of the root causes of the problems this country faces today.

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Lack of experience in what most would call the real world shows when we see the results of the decisions that have been made in recent years, especially in the NHS.

The blame for our present situation does not just lie with the present administration but stretches back over many years, especially those during which Mr Burnham was in the Department of Health, no doubt conveniently forgotten by many.

Failure to exercise the 
right to vote, if not stemmed, 
will eventually destroy democracy and will then leave our nation in a bigger mess 
than it is all ready, so those listening to the likes of Russell Brand are, I believe, making a big mistake.

Britain is in need of strong leadership to take it through 
the next few years, lifting it out of a continual “fire fighting” position. Unfortunately I do not at present see anyone with the ability and strengths to take on the job.

From: John G Wildie, Briar Grove, Sandal.

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THE SNP, Green Party and Plaid Cymru have all stated that if Labour wins the next general election they would all support them in a hung parliament just to keep the Conservatives out.

Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems have stated time and time again that they intend to scrap Trident and put the money into the NHS and welfare, instead of cuts and more cuts. To me, that would be common sense. Ed Miliband and Ed Balls would also consider scrapping Trident.

Nick Clegg also said that any more cuts to the welfare state would be morally wrong. But Mr Osborne has already warned us that if the Conservatives win the next election, there would be more and more cuts. This is ridiculous.

Fast track to
costly lesson

From: David H Rhodes, Keble Park North, Bishopthorpe, York.

IF one is caught speeding 
within limited parameters 
then two options may be 
offered:

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Go on a speed awareness course and a fine of £95. Time is also involved with travel to the centre and with about four hours for the course the offender may incur a half-day off work with a subsequent loss of wages.

Pay a fine of £100 with three penalty points on the licence and an increase in insurance premium.

This latter option may be preferable for some offenders, but the difference seems marginal.

I would have thought that the police would prefer offenders to go on the course, so why don’t they reduce the cost?