Letter: Now is time to bring elections up to date
The idea that young people should be forced to vote or be fined completely misses the point.
Most of the young people I speak to, and an increasing number of older folk, simply find the yah-boo-sucks, point scoring behaviour in all aspects of party politics to be pathetic and not worthy of a vote.
Still, if the powers-that-be do force this proposal on younger citizens, they might at last initiate a serious demand for the replacement of party politics with constituency democracy.
All that needs is for every elected representative to be selected by at least 51 per cent of the vote, through the two candidates gaining the most votes in a first round going forward to a second, with all members then having the responsibility to seek support for their constituents preferences, but within the overriding requirement of fulfilling national well-being, not party dogma, acting on available evidence and considering the consequences beyond the next election.
The idea of moving our political system on from the 18th and 19th centuries into the 21st and our children's future will probably scare a lot of people. But how many can honestly say that the current situation fulfils our national needs, apart from those with an ulterior motive to maintain party power – like the current politicians and lobbyists?
Malcolm MacIntyre-Read
Much Wenlock
