What another naive letter from Martin Webb. (Adver. 16th. April: “No time for apathy”).
He laments why some people will not vote. Is it apathy? No!
Britain, unlike Afghanistan, is one of the oldest democracies in the western world. Thus, the electorate, are centuries old, and are up to the wiles of the same old political classes with the usual promises of a “better tomorrow,” and as usual it turns out to be a basket of lies.
Bernard Shaw had them weighed up: Every five years an air balloon lands with the government on board. Out gush all the promises to the electorate. The electorate vote them back in. And up goes the air balloon into the atmosphere never to be seen for another FIVE years, until they land again with more promises!
Assuming Afghanistan’s democracy takes root, don’t you think in a few centuries time they too will become disillusioned and cynical at their political masters?
Are their leaders any different from ours? Given a chance their politicians too will dip their noses into the gravy trough. In fact, accusations against of corruption their president have been circulating for years.
Have you ever noticed that more and more voters are becoming so disillusioned with Parliament they no longer consult with their useless elected MPs, but bypass them, and go out and protest on the streets?
Little wonder then democracies have in general only a few centuries of life before expiring.
Steve Nibbs, Milton Road, Swindon
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