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GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY
Page 26
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The comments made by Clive Hoyland (CM1B-24 Oct) are totally valid. In a democratic society physical demonstration of disillusionment can sit quite comfortably alongside political process.
However desirable and preferable it may be to sort out difficulties through negotiation, history records that major changes are rarely bought about without the catalyst of some physical demonstration. Demonstrations serve to bring home to those in government that public support for their policy is ebbing away.
Those who took part in last year's fuel demonstrations were playing with their own livelihoods—an action no one takes lightly. The end result being that the motoring population at large benefited, including the "big operators" who were noticeable by their absence.
At this juncture it may be relevant to recall the basic difference between the RHA and the FA.
The RHA is an association whose membership mainly consists of individuals and small companies whose income is derived from operating vehicles together with, in some instances, other associated activities.
The ETA's membership mainly consists of those whose income is derived from manufacturing/retailing but who operate vehicles as an adjunct to their main activity.
Over time the FTA has moved away from its original concept and allowed itself to accept some pure transport interests as members.
However, the basic and critical difference between the Associations remains thus, preventing their amalgamation. In global terms the members of the ETA are the customers or prospective customers of the RHA, and their objectives cannot be totally reconciled.
In this scenario Geoff Dossetter, head of external affairs at the FA, cannot fully understand the frustrations and accept what motivated the demonstrators to do what they did.
However, the fact is that the demonstrations were much more effective in getting the government to re-think its policy than the action taken by those following the politically correct line. Governments cannot always thwart public opinion.
I suggest that this was a good result for democracy. JD Barber, Shepley, Huddersfield.
Editor replies: No doubt the FTA wNI respond to the above.