The Editor, Sir:

The media furore arising from the PNP political fund-raising tactic and the public attention it has stirred up seems somewhat hypocritical to those who know the "runnings" and have long ago accepted the fact that in the act of political fund-raising there are no good or bad guys just the necessity of getting funds to feed the power seeking machine in a democratic system of government. This must be an accepted reality and open dialogue is needed to find ways to combat this destructive side of democratic governance.

Hypocritical indignation and denials being expressed is, to me, untenable since all who are actively involved in politics seem to condone the high-profile costly circuses and media budgets that are needed to feed the insatiable machine to ultimately achieve the glory of state power. The other important but downplayed underside of these generally accepted practices by which funds are and must be obtained is that it discourages and frightens active involvement and service from many qualified and other motivated persons from civic society who could make valuable contributions but realise "it takes cash to be there". It also possible forces those who become involved to use fair or sometimes foul means to stay in the race.

No acceptance of the realities

The sad part is there seems to be no acceptance of these realities, and no attempts being made to face these glaring facts with a view to finding ways to dismantle undesirable and unnecessary costly window dressings that now pass as accepted political practices and to try to recondition the minds of the voting public to accept other ways of putting forward political parties and individual candidates who feel they have something to offer to the country.

This is where, in my opinion, political, media and public attention should now be focused as anyone who knows the system must be very aware that political service as it now stands is not for the well-intentioned civic-minded members of the public who want to become actively involved, and it forces political parties that want to achieve or hold on to power to find ways to support their ambitions and visions.

And, as some will no doubt say, I woke up. "Hope springs eternal"

I am, etc.,

JEAN B. ANDERSON

jeanron@hotmail.com