JAN Tartu's recent letter on voter apathy reminded me of the time I was out delivering election literature and the girl (of voting age) who told me "We don't believe in politics", as though it was some kind of religion.

I didn't have the opportunity to ask her whether she had a water supply in her house; whether she had her rubbish collected, or the street in front of her door cleaned (occasionally). In other words, I could have explained that the organisation of our daily lives, the services we often take for granted, are the stuff of politics.

Politicians, or rather those who are willing to take on the responsibilities of ensuring that our lives are not a complete struggle for survival, are ordinary men and women who, incredible though it may seem, feel that they can serve the community best in this way. They have the same frailties as the rest of us, and do not always get it right, but at least they are willing to assume some responsibility for the organisation of our complex society.

Every adult in this country has, through the struggle of many dedicated people in the past, the right and responsibility to express their choice of those who are willing to take this organisation on. If the people who do so are, or appear to be, incompetent, then it is our right and responsibility to choose someone else.

I have said "responsibility" because, in deference to those who struggled and fought for this right, it is our responsibility to use it. I agree that trying to put polling booths in supermarkets and other places to make it "easier" for us to vote is unlikely to achieve more than novelty value, but it doesn't remove our responsibility to vote. One of the problems of our society today is this unwillingness to accept our responsibilities, as many groups and organisations are well aware. The problem of trying to get anyone to serve on committees, or as officers of any organisation, is widespread. As a result, only the dedicated few take on these responsibilities and get mainly brickbats for their efforts.

Finally, may I reiterate that voting is a responsibility for all of us, even if we just put our cross against the first name on the list, we should do it.

Jolyon Coombs

Carslake Avenue

Bolton