Madam, – The proliferation of posters leads me to conclude that whatever the electorate thinks, politicians consider the forthcoming elections as nothing more than beauty contests, in that appearance is far more important than substance. Where is the substance? Where are the policies? I am tempted to not vote at all, but realise that abstention is not the answer and that I will just have to look harder. – Yours, etc,
GREG SCANLON,
Ballycasey Manor,
Shannon, Co Clare.
Madam, – I’m glad to report that here in south Leitrim we are practically free of election posters due to an enlightened decision by local councillors to agree on a voluntary ban. However, European election candidates are not party to this agreement and I still have to endure Declan Ganley smiling at me every morning on the main street. – Yours, etc,
MIKE BURKE,
Mohill, Co Leitrim.
Madam, – I see that people, including your cartoonist (Martyn Turner, May 20th), are looking up at the election posters. The German air ace Adolf Galland, during the last days of the second World War when Nazi Germany was being hammered, noted in his diary: “If you look up and see a plane coloured silver, it’s American, if it’s coloured in camouflage it’s British, if it’s not there at all, it’s German.”
But now, if you look up and see a party name on a poster coloured in blue, it’s Fine Gael, if it’s red it’s Labour, if it’s not there at all it’s Fianna Fáil. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN GILLEN,
Beech Drive,
Dundrum, Dublin 16.