Sir,- Commentators are right in suggesting that the voting public are approaching the Treaty in a very ill-informed manner. However, our politicians, with their prophecies of great gloom and doom if we dare to vote No only serve to underline the complete absence of democracy that the EU is currently forcing upon us. An Taoiseach suggests that a No vote would leave us in some form of limbo. This is untrue, as a No vote from any member state (and only three are even being given the right to vote) will simply encourage the EU to reconsider its proposals. Therefore, a No vote from Ireland will not have any more ill-effect than a No vote from the Danes or the Portuguese or rejection by any of the other national parliaments. The Tanaiste suggests that we must vote Yes because we have got rich on the strength of money from the EU. She neglects to tell us that we are soon expected to give rather than take from EU funds and ignores totally the potentially disastrous effects which many economists predict will ensue from our already rash decision to join EMU. For the opposition, Mr. Bruton asserts that three and a half million Irish people must not jeopardise European progress. Surely his first concern should be those three and a half million and what is best for them. Support for the Amsterdam Treaty is, at best, another example of how our politicians can so willingly make us dance to the European tune. At worst, it is yet another nail in the coffin of European democracy. - Yours, etc., Jane Fallon,
Viewmount, Waterford.