Letters
Democracy?
Sir - So Howard Brayton believes that if you don't vote, then you are not entitled to whinge (Letters, May 7).
Isn't that a bit harsh, given that no less a politician than Peter Mandelson, in a speech in Bonn, Germany, in March 1998, told us: "The age of true representative democracy is now coming to an end," and he should know.
Mr Brayton asks if it was apathy or resignation that resulted in 77 per cent of the electorate staying away in the local elections.
Well, it's a bit of both, but the real answer can be summed up in three words - 'cabinet local government', introduced in 2001, following New Labour's Local Government Act 2000.
The Act established a system of generous payments to councillors (called allowances), a council leader with powers of patronage, and discipline through party whipping. Stepping out of line means no appointments to committees, no chance of making cabinet rank with even better rewards, and 'deselection' for being out of favour with the leader.
Furthermore, in West Oxfordshire, Lib Dems, who were once prepared to put up a fight, now seem to acquiesce in this cosy arrangement.
If you don't subscribe to this, then just consider the Marriotts Close development.
The public modestly asked for ten per cent retention of 'green open space' as a recreational area. There were some 40 plus letters and a petition, with more than 4,000 signatures in favour. Witney spoke, but went unheard. Under the old system, meetings of the council were held in the evenings, so the public could attend and see their representatives in action. Meetings were proper debates, with councillors free to speak, not statements of officer's actions or intentions - mostly in conformity with central Government and Brussels' diktats.
It's admirable that Mr Brayton has done the 'right thing' by voting for 50 years, but sad that he has not been informed that things have moved on.
What we have, is a pretend democracy, in which the public is required to pay up and shut up.
David Barnby, New Yatt Rd, Witney
2:51pm Tuesday 13th May 2008
Print 
Email this
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
