Madam, – I will not be exercising my democratic right to vote in the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. I want to, but will be away from my official voting centre on October 2nd and do not qualify for a postal vote. I was unable to vote in the recent local elections for the same reason. In this mobile age, many other potential voters must find themselves in a similar position.
Secure encryption systems have advanced rapidly and the development of online voting would seem a logical step forward to ensure that all who wish to vote may do so. I understand this facility already exists in parts of the US.
– Yours, etc,
Madam, – I notice that the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll on Lisbon shows 25 per cent of people in the "don't know" category (Front page, September 3rd). Contrary to the "If you don't know, vote No" advice advocated by many of the No campaign last time out, could I suggest an alteration in the interests of democracy: "If you don't know, don't vote".
– Yours, etc,
Madam, – How to lose a referendum: 1. Make the citizens vote a second time, even though they said No – but make sure you don’t change the wording. 2. Have Ryanair on the Government side, saying there are a millions reasons to vote Yes (excluding taxes and charges), and then have the same Government introduce a €10 travel tax, contrary to EU law of freedom of movement between member-states. 3. Have on the Yes side a millionaire car salesman, like Bill Cullen, who opposed changes to the infamous VRT. 4. On top of high VRT, introduce a Green (Party) carbon tax, and just to be on the safe side, impose a €200 a year work parking tax, just for daring to have a job! 5. In case the European Central Bank doesn’t hype up mortgage rates any time soon, re-introduce water rates and a property tax on every family home in Ireland, while at the same time making taxpayers bail out the bankers and the builders.
That should do the trick. Oh! I almost forgot. Make sure Brian Cowen leads the Yes campaign.
– Yours, etc,