We are again being told to be good little voters

In this auspicious year of our history as an independent, democratic nation we face a choice.

After the last election, our great leader rightly asserted that this is not Greece. And he inaugurated the great democratic revolution, a revolution created by our ballots: a new politics.

This election offers us a similarly momentous opportunity. On this occasion our leader might do worse than warn us that this is not Spain.

Six months after elections in that country, Spaniards still have no government. Imagine - no government! No one to keep the banks in order. No one to care for homeless citizens. No one to take in refugees from the Shannon floods. No one to rescue traveller families hunted from their homes. In short, an appalling vista.

Now is not the time for changing horses. Where is our gratitude? Let us hold fast to democratic ideals: government is for the people!

Aidan Hayes

Falcarragh

Co Donegal