Sir, - John Water's contention that our politicians are "usurpers" and "illicit custodians" of power is incorrect. Whether we like them or not, they have all been elected by those of us who bother to vote. Recent disclosures at the tribunals have not changed that.
What the tribunals have highlighted is that our method of funding political parties, and therefore the whole political system, is corruptible. The only real solution to that problem is to fund political parties out of public funds with strict ceilings on expenditure. All private donations, whether from corporations, trade unions or individuals should be made illegal.
This would relieve the individual public representative from the tyranny of large donors. It would also empower the ordinary citizen visa-vis the members of the brown envelope brigade. There is a marked reluctance among all political parties to even discuss such an option. - Yours, etc.,
Tony Leavy, Shielmartin Drive, Sutton, Dublin 13.