Madam, - "What sort of people are we? We know now".
Your Editorial of Friday 13th (!) opened with this question regarding an opinion poll that was unfavourable to Fine Gael and Labour, the "alternative coalition". It suggested that the electorate was indifferent, or stupid or in awe of corruption. Such a rush to judgment does not take all the facts into account.
The poll was not just about Fianna Fáil or Bertie Ahern. It was taken after the electorate had had months to digest the Fine Gael/Labour alliance and had heard much rhetoric and many negative noises from that quarter. Fine Gael and Labour tell us they will do a better job than the present Government, but give little detail on how they might achieve this.
The poll may be suggesting that voters do not want so much opposition emphasis on the alleged failings of the Government. Maybe they want to hear how exactly an alternative government could improve things. They might think they have not heard much more substantial than billboard posters highlighting the charm of the alternative leader. And maybe they think that this marriage of opposites is not a match made in heaven.
Whatever they think, it is unlikely to be as one-dimensional as your Editorial suggests. - Yours, etc,
RÓNÁN Ó CAOINDEALBHÁIN, Bóthar tSlí Leathain, Baile Atha Cliath 15.
Madam, - Perhaps some of your readers could enlighten me with regard to your recent opinion poll as I seem to be missing something. I am perplexed as to how two thirds of those polled felt Bertie was wrong to accept money, yet all but one of the Fianna Fáil vegetables in the cabinet were adamant that he had done nothing wrong.
I could understand this coming from some of the cabbages and turnips but it now seems that they are virtually all small potatoes. Could it be that they are all terrified of an all-seeing Bertie from his vantage point up every tree?
It seems that "Una Duce Una Voce" is alive and well, not to mention Gordon Gekko ("greed is good"). - Yours, etc,
JOHN WHELAN, Shankill, Dublin 18.
Madam, - I think there are good grounds for thinking that people have taken a broad view of what was important in all the conflicting arguments surrounding the recent controversy.
It is to be hoped that you, who are currently in breach of a Supreme Court injunction and have destroyed documents requested by a tribunal, will benefit from a similar broad view in the courts. - Yours, etc,
LIAM BRADLEY, Edenvale Road, Dublin 6.
Madam, - The poll results you published last Friday appear to say a lot about the kind of democracy we live in. If we take them at face value, they suggest that the electorate is as amoral, hypocritical and, - dare I say it? - stupid, as Fianna Fáil believes it to be. I sincerely hope this is not the case. - Yours, etc,
NEIL FORSYTH, Rossberry Lane, Lucan, Co Dublin.