AS a regular reader of The Bolton Evening News 'on line', an article which I found disturbing caught my eye - "MP Ruth's election education scheme" and I feel I must reply.

The Institute of Citizenship wants to educate (brainwash) secondary school children and post 16 students, (get them while they're young and impressionable) to raise awareness of the way they're are governed, and enable them to learn about the democratic system. Democracy is not freedom, democracy, or should I say "mobocracy", is just that 'might is right', or majority rules absolute.

If 51 per cent want a ban on say for example cigarette smoking, then 49pc of the population are disfranchised without a say, and under the Westminster Parliamentary System 'first past the post,' it could be the minority dictating to the majority. Freedom of choice for the individual is severely restricted, if not eliminated all together. Democracy should not be confused with freedom, which is what it appears this scheme is designed to do. The two are entirely different.

Stuart A Chapman Stuart.Chapman@netaccess.co.nz

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