Madam, - Michael J. Stokes may be right when he asserts (May 13th) that "the Government is comprised of sensible men and women" and the Opposition's allegations "overflow the bounds of decency".
The really interesting part of his letter, however, is not his party political views but what he said - or more importantly what he did not say - in his advocacy of hard choices.
I'm all in favour of "everyone standing up and being counted" as Mr Stokes so elegantly put it. One problem with that is that if the hard choices hurt either me or Mr Stokes we are likely to stand up and be counted by giving out. Another problem is that in the last election I don't remember any political party, whether in Government or Opposition, standing up to be counted on hard choices.
I realise that the market for hard choices is a distinctly limited one. At the same time I for one have a strong sense of being had in the last election. I fear that a small number of very wealthy and influential people spent a lot of money telling all of us ordinary yobs less than the truth.
I also fear that when the hard choices have to be made that it is us ordinary yobs that will have to pay while the "cute hoors" with the deep pockets on the inside track will gain. This situation will continue as long as we put up with politicians spending large sums of money telling us lies.
To quote Mr Stokes, "that is a luxury long since past" and one we can no longer afford. - Yours, etc.,
A. LEAVY,
Shielmartin Drive,
Sutton,
Dublin 13.
Madam, - Whenever I discuss politics with other young voters, the same question always arises regarding the official leader of the Opposition: "Enda Who?"
Given the disastrous Irish Times/TNSmrbi opinion poll results for Fine Gael, surely its members have to start thinking about seeking a different type of leadership. Otherwise, by the time the next general election comes around, it it will be a case of "Enda story". - Yours, etc.,
ANDREW GREANEY,
Castle Avenue,
Clontarf,
Dublin 3.
Madam, - I see that Fianna Fáil is conducting a strong campaign to convince the public that it did not mislead us before the last election. Might I suggest the party hire Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, better known as Comical Ali, who may be between jobs at the moment? - Yours, etc.,
CIARÁN MAC LOCHLAINN,
Dunmore,
Co Galway.