Cornerstone of democracy

Noted politicians, such as Winston Churchill and John Curtin, have stated that a free press is the cornerstone of democracy.

Democracy rests on such earnest liberal newspapers as The Guardian, The Sydney Morning Herald, New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor, and La Ronde and locally, The Peninsula News.

These newspapers echo people's concerns, are fearless and expose corruption and government corporation cover-up.

Without them, democracy would be very fragile indeed.

Only a few politicians reach the same status and not many of them act in the true interests of the people.

I often wonder what schools politicians went to. They seem to work at a different wavelength to the rest of us.

Over the years, I have written to many politicians with little result and often no reply.

The once Member for Peats, the late Keith O'Connell, always said he would reply to personal letters.

His policy I followed when serving as an alderman and councillor.

And I must note that the Member for Robertson, Jim Lloyd has had a good track record in replying to correspondence, as had the office of Premier, Bob Carr.

The highlights of politicians who cared to give a bit of time and effort to an individual letter, are; Arther Calwell, Bill Hayden, Peter Collins, Bob Carr, Senators Tony Mulvihill and John Faulkner, Lindsay Tanner and, locally, mayors Robert Bell and Malcolm Brooks.

Keith Whitfield Woy Woy