Poor turnout reveals the extent of apathy amongst weary voters

SIR,

The current rounds of by-elections are done and dusted. As the votes were being counted it was clear from the numbers voting that apathy for the political game is rampant. When you see 25 t0 30 per cent of the voters bothering to come out it tells us that the majority do not think that those who are elected will not make any difference to their lives.

It indeed shows little respect for the rule of democracy, but then again democracy went out the window some time back when, during the Lisbon Treaty, we were informed that our vote was not right because we did not understand what we were voting for.

We were given another chance to vote and get it right this time. Which is what we did? Whether we ever understood what we were voting for did not seem to matter, just as long as we did what we were told to do

From the way the country is being run at the moment, we can be sure that few, if any, are capable of doing the job. Which seems reasonable enough when you realise that there is no qualification required for the position of, Councillor, TD, Minister, Taoiseach or President. All you have to do is to be able to gather enough votes to get elected and have the authority to rise in the ranks.

Those elected then employ a battalion of spin-doctor’s to guide them along. The real work of getting things done is with the civil servants. They, from previous experience both good and bad, allow the country to work. If for some reason or other they did not turn up for work, the country would grind to a shuddering halt.

Whereas if the TD does not turn up, why some kind soul will press his button as a favour to him of course.

Running the country for some time now has been nothing less than shambolic. Project costs rising out of control with no one being held accountable. Building and fire regulations are being flouted with no one being held responsible. It is only when some disaster occurs that fruitless investigations are undertaken.

So with the next General Election is looming on the horizon will the number of voters decline even more? My guess is that it will. This, however, will not deter those seeking election to get your vote and get their nose into the trough of plenty and a fine pension at the end of it all, Sincerely,

Michael O Meara,

Faha, Killarney