WILLIAM DERHAM,
Sir, - Depressed! That's how I felt after watching last Friday's Late Late Show. With accusations of "They're all the same", "Each as bad as the other", and so on, it made me think: Are they? Are all politicians the stereotypical, cardboard cut-outs that some people would have us believe?
As an 18-year-old student, I really have to say "Yes."
Each party has its own colour, but for most of us that's where the individuality ends. They all want to provide more hospital beds, to improve public transport, to create jobs, to convince you that they are the lesser of several similar evils and are the best your vote will buy you.
Seeming to create policy and to live their political lives by the latest opinion poll or headline, none of today's politicians seem to stand for anything except re-election. Before they do anything they all seem to test public opinion and then hop on whichever bandwagon seems to be the safest.
None seem to be capable of coming up with ideas or trying something new. Politics have stagnated and that's why people don't care.
I'm not saying that the above problems shouldn't be solved; I'm saying I want more! People, especially young people, want politicians who have more than two dimensions, who have morals, principals and, especially, ideas.
As a student I want a politician who cares about my education, who can relate to how I live and who is in touch with the issues that really matter to me. I want a politician who will inspire me to vote for him or her, not one who is so discouraging that I feel there is no point in voting at all. If politicians really want to recapture the youth vote all they have to do is really care about youth. It's that simple.
I don't blame young people for not voting or for taking to the streets to voice their opinions; we have been left with no other choice.
I just hope people notice before it's too late, when in 20 years' time no one will care at all. - Yours, etc.,
WILLIAM DERHAM,
Milverton,
Skerries,
Co Dublin.
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Sir, - There is nothing like an election to bring a spot of (unwanted) colour to our environment in the form of election posters.
I doubt if this is a record, but there is a pole on Templeogue Road with nine sets of electrical cable ties still wrapped around it from previous campaigns.
Perhaps a levy on the political parties for each cable tie they use would help dampen their enthusiasm for openly littering the country.
Maybe we should vote for the party that puts up the fewest posters, or none at all. - Yours, etc.
OISIN MALIN,
Wainsfort Gardens,
Dublin 6W.
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Sir, - With all the parties declaring their deep concern at the growing public service pay bill, can we expect them to display a modicum of leadership and forgo the 40per cent increase they awarded themselves last year? -
Yours, etc.,
FRANK DOHENY,
St Peter's Port,
Athlone,
Co Westmeath.
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Sir, -The level of political debate in Ireland is generally high. The sanity of the population is also hight.
I wish suggest that, in the interest of preserving both standards, all politicians be banned from the airwaves until the general election if over. Yours, etc.,
JOHN LEAMY
Bunnanadden
Co Sligo