Civil disobedience

VINCENT J Lavery’s letter attacking those calling on citizens to refuse to pay the household charge (Dec. 19) is flawed.

Civil disobedience, which is being advocated, is acceptable behaviour in any democracy providing that there is clear injustice and the actions are carried out within “fidelity to the law”.

The charge is clearly unfair and is unjust because it is being levied with no regard to “ability to pay”.

Civil disobedience is a moral and acceptable action where a state, which is fundamentally just in terms of its basic principles and constitution, has enacted a misguided and unjust law which can be changed by appeal to fundamental principles.

Jim O’Sullivan

Rathedmond

Sligo