The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Our democracy is too precious
Sir, – There can be no doubt that the Scottish electorate faces challenging choices at the next General Election.
After 17 years of SNP government, Scotland is not in a better place. We are subject to the highest tax regime in the UK. Pensioners are taxed here at a rate higher than in England.
Ferries don’t sail and their replacement costs are stratospheric; explanations for potential fiscal mismanagement are hidden in nationalist smirr.
Police Scotland cannot police effectively and crimes like housebreaking, shoplifting and vandalism disappear in yet more mist as crime goes unnoticed.
NHS Scotland is in terminal decline and infrastructure is a joke; travel Scotland and you’re in for a bumpy ride.
The next PM in recent times supported Jeremy Corbyn, so what principles define Sir Keir Starmer besides his political opportunism?
A sorry betrayal of his namesake Keir Hardie, trade unionist and founder of the Labour movement.
The Liberal Democrats denied democracy not long since in the Brexit vote and their leader ‘Sir’ Ed Davey is poisoned by the Horizon Post Office scandal.
So what choice there? Rejection surely and I write as a former activist.
Scottish Greens are Marxist in philosophy and independence-minded. Their failed ‘green’ policies would bankrupt us all in their mindless coalition in the government of Scotland.
So we’re limited for choice in Scotland.
Don’t be misled by the latest budget. The Tories are toast! Their mismanagement of Covid19 was disastrous made catastrophic by PM Truss’s budget.
But I’m a democrat, albeit authoritarian?
I believe voting must be compulsory as in Australia. And it should cost you if you don’t vote.
If you believe that voting makes no difference or that you’re not political, you’re mistaken. Everything is political.
Without active participation in the democratic process, we may be doomed to anarchy and extremist demagoguery.
If you cannot chose, spoil your ballot paper and avoid a hefty fine. Our democracy is too precious to lose through apathy!
Bill Maxwell, Mar Place, Keith.