IS democracy defunct, or are politicians just deaf?

I ask this as we approach the local elections. No doubt there will be a poor turnout as the young can't see the point of voting and the older voters get more apathetic, after being let down year after year.

Local councillors used to run the town for the benefit of its population, now they just see them as a tax cow to be milked for more money for any daft idea with which they come up, usually one the electorate don't want, and one that never turns out quite right.

Church Street is a prime example. It doesn't matter what the electorate want, they can have this and damn well like it.

Politicians never get anything right, history proves this.

Global warming is the big issue today, the major parties see this as a vote winner, but I doubt that the majority of the electorate have it on top of their "things to do today list."

But the main political parties are all convinced about the cause and are prepared to tax us and generally make our lives more difficult just to prove it.

Yet based on their past record, this will be totally wrong. In 20 years time there will be another explanation, but we will suffer the consequences in the meantime.

Look back, say 20 years, people's main concerns were education, the National Health Service, immigration, crime, EEC and taxation. The same main concerns that we have today, despite previous governments coming up with the solution.

Is there less crime about today, is immigration going down?

No, things are getting worse along with our tax bill, I wouldn't have minded the increased tax if it came with better services, a safer community, less interference from Europe, hospitals that are not built on, buy now and pay forever plan.

But it doesn't, if politicians have a choice of two options they will always make the wrong one, especially if the electorate want the other. They would be better off tossing a coin, at least they would be right half the time. Politicians are always spouting that they are put there to represent the electorate's wishes. Then why don't they.

STANLEY MELLING (via email).