Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Phoney meat and live animal exports
YET more cases are coming to light in the horse meat scandal (Horsemeat Is Not On School Menu, Caterers Tell Parents, Kentish Gazette, February 14).
Well, I’ve had a brilliant idea! Why don’t all the supermarkets bring out a brand name Faux or Phoney then no one could claim to be deceived.
I am of course joking and it doesn’t matter to me as I am a vegetarian.
But, what does worry and concern me a great deal is the fact that this government is allowing live animal exports to continue from Ramsgate docks and now again in the future from Dover. Kathleen Aldham Richdore Road, Waltham
POLITICS, the art and science and government, affects each of us from cradle to grave.
Like it or not, it has a vital impact on our lives yet fewer people are exercising their right to vote.
Is that because people don’t recognise the significance of government on their lives or is it because they have lost confidence in politics and politicians?
It’s probably a bit of both but confidence has to be earned and sadly the behaviour of some politicians has done serious damage to confidence in them and the process of politics and government at both national and local level.
Is this any wonder when time and again the opinions and wishes of the general public are so disregarded, dismissed and even rudely rubbished? When political leaders don’t listen, make inappropriate decisions and then robustly defend them with arrogance and pomposity, the general public will question the integrity of such leaders.
When leaders lose the confidence of members of their own political group and party, questions will be raised again.
How can people trust a leader who doesn’t listen, who dismisses alternative advice, riding roughshod over intelligent disagree, sometimes passionately. It’s some time now since obtaining the vote was so hard won in our country but in other younger democracies the ability to vote is valued because the memory of the struggle is still fresh in the mind.
Taking our right to vote for granted is dangerous because democracy is fragile.
So often there is a public sense that it doesn’t exist for some and politicians who disregard democracy in cavalier fashion compound the perception, causing immense damage to the vital political process that affects us all. Electoral apathy is a reflection of public lack of faith in politicians and politics, and politicians ignore the warning signs at their peril.
However there is evidence that the plucky people of our district are uniting in common endeavour to be heard and not ignored nor dismissed.
It is my fervent hope that popular revolt will be a blow to electoral apathy with greater numbers of people demonstrating their strength at the ballot boxes. I would say to all politicians – the trust placed in you is a privilege so please don’t abuse or squander it. Julia Seath Clifton Road, Whitstable