The editor's comment on my letter regarding ballot papers ask what point I was trying to make - I am sorry that I did not make this clear and trust you will publish my answer.

I meant that one had the freedom and the right to have a ballot paper and that there was the freedom and the right to cast ones's vote upon it and that there was also the freedom and the right, if one did not agree with the policies put forward by any political parties contending that election not to vote - to abstain and whilst there is (as you write) a freedom to spoil the paper there is no moral right to do so. In so spoiling one tells the people who obtained and protected this bastion of democracy that their endeavours mean nothing to you.

Two other points: there may be some who find it hard to equate the two things you wrote about Mr Shannon and the views he expressed in

a. "I'm with you all the way mate," and one week later:

b. "He may be a pathetic individual." Secondly in no way did I suggest that "people should be compelled into a mandatory vote" and to suggest that I did is not only a travesty of the truth but leads one to suspect that integrity is not perhaps one of your stronger attributes and, if you will allow me to say so, as such a person your opinion of me and the words I use is of little if any account.

J A G Scott,

Homewood Avenue,

Morecambe.

This is really quite tiresome but for the last time some points for you to consider:

spoiling one's ballot paper is arguably more positive than (as you suggest) abstaining - at least you have to get up off your behind and make a statement.

I wouldn't deign to decide what was for others morally right or not - who blessed you with that power?

It's not hard for anyone but those who wish to deliberately miss the point to equate the two statements I made regarding Mr Shannon - the two are not mutually exclusive.

my integrity may not be one of my stronger attributes (I'll leave that for others less supercilious than you to decide) but if my opinion matters so little to you why bother to write in time and again?

purveyors of pedantry rarely make valid points Mr J. A. G. Scott but do feel free to keep your letters coming in as I once worked in a sewage filtering farm I feel more than qualified to deal with your missives - Ed.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.