From Henry Legg, president and founder, Sixth-Form Debating Society.
I AM writing in response to Helier Clement’s comments (JEP, 2 November) and in response to Joe Mayes’s letter last week.
I write mainly to inform Mr Clement, hopefully to his joy, that there already is a Sixth-Form Debating Society and I dare say that it may well have contributed to Mr Mayes’s comments, as he is a regular attendee.
Personally I take very little notice of Jersey politics because of the regular petty disputes and also the fact that the tone of debate in the Chamber is enough to send anyone to sleep. However, I do follow closely the English parliament and believe that our politicians could learn a lot from them.
Firstly, the States needs to be more focused on policy, something which seems to have no relevance in our Island. After all, without party politics what can putting your cross in the box for one person really achieve?
Secondly, they need to get more involved with those who are apathetic about voting. It’s all very good holding hustings and other public meetings but only people already thinking about voting will attend such events.
Mr Mayes gave a great way to do just that but I wonder whether his comments will cause even the slightest rumblings in our States Chamber? Why would our politicians want us liberal youths voting and politically aware when the majority of them appear to have a right-leaning tendency?
I genuinely hope that we can make politics more exciting in this Island but it appears to me that it is the very people who are involved in Jersey politics, the States Members, that cause voter apathy and only when we change them will we reduce it. The problem is that we cannot escape voter apathy because without those apathetic voters voting we will not get change and by virtue of them being apathetic voters they will not vote.
Thus our politicians can sleep at night, safe in the knowledge that carrots like younger voting will keep those of us who would vote content while those who are apathetic about voting take no notice.
