The apathy and repugnance which many of us display towards politics and politicians is heightening on a daily basis.

Ten years ago, Tony Blair promised us ‘people power for communities’. Similar pledges now fall on deaf ears. Spin doctors subtly change the facts whilst their masters airbrush out of existence any possibly embarrassing evidence of their crimes.

We are now entering the pre-general election phase and the media is once more rife with the same sort of promises Blair used.

Then, he was promising power devolvement by way of proportional representation.

This produced an appetite for change which got him elected but which has sadly proved to be ill-founded when the fruits of First Past The Post became apparent to New Labour. Job security and greed displaced selflessness.

This is not the example we want – it encourages similar behaviour from everyone else.

The ‘black economy’ is able to legitimise itself by the blatant tax avoidance of the rich and its ready acceptance by the Tories.

Until politicians put some real effort into creating a truly power and wealth-sharing environment, the apathy they have created will continue to produce governments which have limited and short-term ambitions.

Power corrupts. We all desperately need to be involved in the election process; not feeling side-lined as we watch the carnival go by.

Then and only then, will we catch up with much of the world outside the presently stifling and depressing atmosphere of the UK.

With proportional representation we can enjoy, with many other countries, the benefits of a dynamic and continuously evolving democratic processes.

However, I fear we will continue to stagnate in a country whose laws favour the ‘haves’ rather than the ‘have nots’ becoming a nation of largely unfulfilled ‘subjects’ rather than citizens with a real sense of involvement.

When youngsters experience the hopelessness of no jobs, poor pay and zero-hour contracts, is it surprising that some of them become vulnerable to the rhetoric of undesirable causes?

They need fair and even conditions which encourage pride and self realisation.

Mike Joslin, Garfield Avenue, Dorchester