Democracy in us

In the prelude to his show at the Fringe, Alex Salmond says that it was “an extraordinary consequence of the manipulation of the democratic process that somebody like Donald Trump could end up the most powerful man in the world”.

Alex, it is called democracy, and the US has something we don’t have – a written constitution – unless you include the Magna Carta.

The US constitution was written by the founding fathers in the 18th century, and they set out to ensure that the large cities could not overpower the smaller ones by making the state capitals small towns out in the country. They also ensured that the larger states could not usurp the smaller ones by having the electoral college voting system, whereby the result could be that one candidate could win the popular vote but could lose the electoral college vote. This happened with Hillary Clinton.

As for independence, Alex should tell the First Minister to call another referendum, and she can have another one after that. It appears some people think that democracy is all right as long as it gives the answer they want.

Alex, don’t give up the day job – chat shows and horses.

JAMES MACINTYRE Clarendon Road, Linlithgow So ex-mp Alex Salmond’s Edinburgh Fringe show is so successful the run is to be extended. Excellent. Hopefully he’ll develop a taste for light entertainment, do Scotland a favour and abandon his political comeback dreams.

MARTIN REDFERN Woodcroft Road, Edinburgh