A state of apathy? (From Witney Gazette)

A state of apathy?

3:12pm Tuesday 6th May 2008

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Sir - It is a given of human nature, that we are rarely satisfied with what we have: politicians, the media, and ad-men are well aware. Nothing wrong with that, provided the alternatives are positive and constructive. But if the Daily Mail, which purports to represent middle-Englanders, is to be believed, then we are indeed a nation of paranoid whingers.

I have voted in every election, both national and local for the last 50 years, not merely because I value my right and duty to do so, but also because I firmly believe that one should fight for what one believes in, from the inside, rather than standing on the outside complaining.

That said, when it came to the May 1 local elections, I was grateful to David Horne for his piece on Page 3. Apart from that and the breakdown on the WODC website, I would have had no idea who, if anyone, was standing for possible election in my ward - and I still have no idea what they were standing for. Only one candidate, so the one I voted for, had distributed any information and called at the door. Of the other three candidates I know nothing: being as they were, conspicuous by the absence. No prizes for working out who's who.

Was the turnout of approximately 23 per cent at the Madley Brook polling station (not allowing for possible postal votes) indicative of a state of apathy or resignation by both candidates and voters? I trust that the 77 per cent who didn't bother to exercise their right will not continue to whinge, when decisions are taken, with which they don't agree.

Howard Brayton, Hazel Close, Madley Park, Witney

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