Monday's Letters: The ship is sinking and we all have to stand together

Jayne wrote: "We know that desperate measures are called for. But this time around, we are not emerging from a war."

Indeed, we are not but the effect is the same, as we are emerging from the profligate mis-management of our nation's economy for 13 years by a Labour government. Our ship of state is sinking in an ocean of debt and radical, incisive action has to be taken.

Yet this very action is what Jayne complains about, even making assumptions in an alarmist manner regarding our dustbins festering "for weeks outside the door, because collections will be scaled right back".

During the Second World War, street lights did not go off at midnight, as Jayne surmises might happen now. They were never lit. Blackout curtains covered windows and road signposts were removed. People didn't complain because they knew it was necessary. They coped with air raids, bombing and rationing of food and clothing.

We need now to emulate their spirit of fortitude and endurance. The snag is that we have grown spoiled, over-indulgent and apathetic with easy living.

A bit of hardship, a tightening of the belt will do us no harm. We will appreciate what we do have rather than taking things for granted, like the realisation of how fantastic electricity is when we have a power cut. During the war, we were one nation with a common foe. Today our enemy is national debt and we need to join ranks and fight together for our economic survival.

United we stand. Divided we fall.

From: Maureen Hunt, Woolley, near Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

From: Philip Smith, New Walk, Beverley, East Yorkshire.

WHAT on earth is Jayne Dowle on about? She says "Life may be miserable, but at least we've got the Queen" (Yorkshire Post, July 8). Is anyone less miserable because we have the Queen? No – apart from Jayne obviously.

What difference does it make that the Queen is the longest serving monarch in the world? All that means is that she has deprived us of having an elected head of state for all that time. I don't want to be our head of state but I want the right to be our head of state.

Yes it may well be true that the Queen gave a good speech at the UN, almost certainly written for her by somebody else. It is all very well for the Queen to talk about security, prosperity and dignity. If I were a millionaire like she is, I could easily do the same and so could anyone else.

Next – how could anyone possibly know whether we are "getting plenty of bang for our buck" from the monarchy? Most of their wealth is surrounded in secrecy, smoke and mirrors. As if that was the point anyway. One thing is certain – the country would be democratically and financially better off without the Windsor family.

From: Duncan Willmore, Poplar Grove, Bradford.

NOWHERE in Jayne Dowle's article is there any reference to the history and principle that sustains the monarchy as an institution, hereditary

rule.

Hereditary rule contradicts all the fundamental principles that underpin a democratic society. It undermines free thinking citizens who believe in democracy, equality and merit.

Hereditary rule brings with it all kinds of medieval baggage such as peers – who interfere in the democratic process without popular consent, deference – which has a stultifying affect on politics,

and the Royal Prerogative – which enshrines in law a selection of totalitarian powers that can be wielded by the Prime Minister at will.

The monarchy is fundamentally anti-democratic with no redeeming features.

Listing the facts about our heritage

From: Nick Bridgland, Heritage Protection Team Leader, North, English Heritage.

I WOULD like to take the opportunity to clarify a few inaccuracies as reported in your article (Yorkshire Post, July 7) on the proposed listing of Castle Market, Sheffield.

English Heritage has not proposed that Castle Market be considered for listing. That request has been submitted externally. Anyone can

suggest a building to English Heritage for listing. We are then obliged to examine that case and give our advice to the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport. The Secretary of State may also take the advice of other experts.

It is not English Heritage that decides if a property is listed, that decision is made by the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport.

The fact that a building or site has previously been considered but rejected for listing does not exclude it from ever being considered again. Knowledge of particular building types is constantly evolving through research and survey and it is therefore reasonable to reconsider buildings on occasion.

Listing identifies whether a building is nationally important. It is not a preservation order, simply a mark of national significance. Listed buildings can still be demolished once the case has been made and unlisted buildings can be kept.

Before English Heritage submits its advice there is is a consultation process where the owners of a building or site proposed for listing and the local planning authority can forward any information or comments they might have on the special architectural and historic interest of the building.

Prison just doesn't work

From: Mark Siddell, director of operations, West Yorkshire Probation Trust, Wakefield.

I WAS most interested to read Bill Carmichael's article "My judgment on Ken – prison does work", and his reference to a range of "facts" to support his case (Yorkshire Post, July 2).

All the available research suggests that as the prison population increases, so does re-offending.

In countries such as Finland and Germany, they have taken active steps to reduce the prison population. Crime has fallen in Finland and levelled out in Germany.

Indeed, if greater use of prison did actually reduce crime, why has the UK (where the prison population has nearly doubled in the last 10-15 years) not seen a drop in its crime rate well below those European countries that have a much lower prison population than we do?

In this country, reoffending rates are highest for offenders with the most experience of custody. As our prison population has increased, so has the number of offences per 100 offenders, as has the severity of those offences. These statistics from the Ministry of Justice tell us clearly that more prison results in more victims of crime. These are the real facts. For victims of crime and for the rest of us, prison really does not work.

Birds of prey take their toll

From: W Forrest, Salendine Nook, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

HOW refreshing to read Jennifer Whiteley's letter (Yorkshire Post, July 7) connecting the decrease in small birds to the RSPB's determination to increase birds of prey, along with the damage that magpies also cause.

It is some years since I discontinued my membership of the RSPB due to their refusal to accept the possibility of that connection. Only the other week on Springwatch, they were going into raptures over the young peregrine falcons, which for some reason or other had lost one parent, while the other was performing an excellent job of feeding its young.

During that very short period of filming, it brought in two small birds, one of which was a blue tit, but offhand I cannot remember what the other was, but it is obvious to me they would not be the only two of our common garden birds that finished up in that same nest before those young ones were fully matured.

The old saying is still very true: "There's none so blind as those that don't want to see".

Coalition must be clearer about their intentions

From: D Birch, Smithy Lane, Cookridge, Leeds.

I AM asking for communication and understanding because there are a lot of mixed messages emerging from the mouths of this coalition that are not thought through, and leaving the people to interpret what is being said and how the words should be understood.

We had a classic this month with the mixed message from the Prime Minister to President Obama, with following mixed messages via the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for Defence.

It was the ending and withdrawal of our troops from Afghanistan within five years (before the next General Election). I suspect the

thought flashed through Mr Cameron's head "It sounds good and I can use it to advantage when the election comes round again". Just in case he doesn't realise, this is very serious stuff he is playing with. It affects the lives of all the families of our Armed Forces. It affects the general public/the Afghan public and its Government and has

evidently led the Taliban to believe that they are winning the war and all they will have to do is wait.

Hence the letter from the Taliban leader, sent to the BBC (the voice of Britain to the world) via John Simpson, a British and world renowned reporter.

This coalition is pushing out so much stuff that if they are not clearer in what they are doing it will implode. We had a new one recently, that all the cuts will now be 40 per cent. Are they completely "thick" and have the idea it will frighten the population over more job losses so that they will work harder/longer and do anything to hold on to their jobs? What do they think it will do to our industry?

We need to see, hear, read,listen and understand what is going to happen to our country.

Make charity closer to home

From: Terry Palmer, South Lea Avenue, Hoyland, Barnsley.

WE are told, by a bunch of public schoolboys now in government who have never had a job in the real world, that we must suffer massive cuts in jobs, welfare etc, while they continue to give our taxpayers' money away in foreign aid, which according to these public schoolboys is their 9bn "sacred cow" and must not be touched.

For instance, they obviously believe it is right that India, just one example, is correct in just opening a new airport at a cost of 1.9bn, coincidentally the exact amount that we British taxpayers have handed them in "foreign aid" over the past 10 years and also remember this is a nation that can also afford nuclear weapons while letting most of their people starve.

Yet Sheffield Forgemasters can't have a paltry few "bob" on account.

Litter disgrace by infirmary

From: Peter Broadbent, Acres Hall Crescent, Pudsey, Leeds.

ABOUT two years ago, I wrote to the Yorkshire Post about the disgraceful filth outside the Leeds General Infirmary, particularly the area between St George's Crypt and the rear of the Clarendon Wing. This mainly composed of cigarette ends – thousands of them left by staff, contractors, patients and visitors.

I also wrote to the health authority. They replied that they would look into it, but that it was the university's problem.

I have returned several times since but nothing has been done. Why is no-one ashamed? This is a modern facility giving the appearance of a slum, a disgrace in our forward-thinking city. Everyone who litters should be fined.