Madam, - Your report of December 14th on what the political parties spent at the last election almost restores faith in our democracy. The top 10 spenders included five PDs who did not get elected despite spending a total of €194,395. This speaks volumes for the good sense of the electorate.
Frank McNamara, who spent €77 for each of his 474 votes, must wish that Gay Byrne had paid him that much for each note he tinkled in that long-ago time when politics was not the preferred resort of minor celebrity. He would never have needed to work again.
Presumably Mary Harney and what remains of her ilk have put down the failure of all that money to garner more votes to market forces. Perhaps they should ask Bertie for advice - because this might be a case where a dig-out could really be in order. - Yours, etc,
JONS CARLSSON, Shankill, Co Dublin.