Sir, On Saturday, the people of Afghanistan went to the polls in elections to determine the course of the first democratic transfer of power in their nation’s history.
Of Afghanistan’s 33 million-strong population, around 12 million were eligible to vote. On the day, despite the heat, heavy rainfall in many places, long queues, technical hitches and, most significantly of all, threats of deadly violence by the Taliban against those who dared to take part, millions of Afghans queued patiently for hours to exercise their democratic right.
According to Afghanistan’s independent election commission some 58% of eligible voters cast their ballots. Encouragingly for a country long-associated with the oppression of women, observers noted a large number of first-time female voters.
Conversely, just 50% of Scots voted in the 2011 Scottish parliamentary elections. We live in a prosperous, developed and peaceful state, with a long tradition of efficient elections and smooth, democratic transitions what is our excuse? That electoral turnout is lower in Scotland than in war-torn Afghanistan is both baffling and unacceptable.
The people of Afghanistan, living amidst poverty and violence, voting under threat of death, put us to shame. There are more Afghans courageous enough to defy terrorism and lay down their lives for democracy, than there are Scots that can be bothered to drive down to their nearest polling station.
In Scotland, we are blessed to be able to vote safe in the knowledge that our elections are free from violence and fraud. Such a privilege should not be casually squandered.
Hopefully May’s European elections and September’s independence referendum will attract the high turnouts befitting their significance.
The referendum gives us the opportunity to determine our nation’s destiny without so much as a nosebleed something that Afghans, it appears, would be prepared to give their lives for.
David Kelly. 17 Highfields, Dunblane.
They should all take heed
Sir, I noted the tributes paid to the late Margo McDonald by Alex Neil and Jack McConnell, glowing tributes by both which will no doubt be echoed by the great and the not so great of the political classes.
Jack McConnell pointed out how she single-handedly, as an independent candidate, won through three times to the Scottish Parliament, an unprecedented result for someone with no party machine behind her.
She accomplished this through her own honest appeal to the electorate who returned her each time.
He finished off by saying: “If young politicians today took note of her dedication to honesty and the various causes she championed, how different Scottish politics would be.”
Surely if all our politicians took heed of this and spoke up honestly about things instead of blindly following the party line to further their own ends, this would change the face of politics all over for the better.
Then maybe, just maybe, the electorate might start having faith again in the political system and politicians.
Ian Allan. Marchside Court, Sauchie.
Perhaps not so confident . . . ?
Sir, As I feverishly await Jenny Hjul’s next column I am struck by one thought. If, as Jenny repeatedly suggests, the unionist campaign is romping to certain victory in the forthcoming referendum; why does she keep banging on about it in her columns?
With the assured victory she keeps predicting just around the corner why doesn’t she write about those issues she keeps insisting “matter most to Scots”? Could it be she is not as confident as she’d have us believe?
Henry Malcolm. 331 Clepington Road, Dundee.
They deserve congratulations
Sir, Network Rail and the 300 men who have worked so hard during the past eight weeks to restore the rail link to the west of England should be congratulated.
Thankfully the recent weather has been in their favour but nevertheless a great effort has been made by all concerned to have the railway opened for the Easter traffic.
John McDonald. 14 Rosebery Court, Kirkcaldy.
Worse than Mrs Thatcher
Sir, Re the botched-up sale of Royal Mail. The Government said they were afraid to put too high a price on it in case they scared off potential buyers.
What nonsense. If you are selling something you can start high and if you don’t sell then you lower your price.
They also made a huge mistake in asking for bankers’ advice. Everyone knows what their reputation is like now.
They lost £2 billion of taxpayers’ money and speculators made a killing by selling their shares for a quick profit.
This lot are even worse than Mrs Thatcher at giving away the family silver.
Alister Rankin. 93 Whyterose Terrace, Methil, Leven.
Hoist with their own petard
Sir, Reading about, and listening to, various horrific stories concerning the National Health Service, it seems to me that they are hoist with their own petard in that they have become so adept at keeping more of us alive for longer that there is now a shortage of medical personnel.
At 86 I admit to being one of the “culprits” or “statistics” myself!
Mary Smith. Maryburgh, Blairadam.