The ‘up yours’ attitude has clearly been coming from the leadership of this country. It pervades PM’s question time, for example. But it is especially slyly cultivated by the BBC. Politicians, diplomats or administrators, are constantly being interviewed to tell us what we should have done or should be doing, quite literally as though the audience was culpable. They breezily state what they have failed to do in terms which place the blame on their audience. This wholly cynical attitude runs through every aspect of BBC reporting which is as near brain-washing as it could be. It is especially obnoxious in the handling of the victim culture; the presentation of details and personalities after traumatic events.

Henry Percy, London, UK

One of the reasons why the numbers voting in elections is decreasing is that politicians don't seem to engage today's youth. And, on a related note, if 16 year olds are responsible enough to pay tax, then they should be responsible enough to decide how their tax money is spent. David Cameron says he won't treat our citizens like children, well perhaps he should give our young adults the right to their say that they deserve.

Heather Devine, Edinburgh,

An unwritten law between the citizen and state is being broken. That is that in a just society a law-abiding person should be able to live their whole lives unmolested and in anonymity without ever attracting the attention of the authorities. Once the authorities want your DNA, watch your every move on CCTV, target you with surreptitious tax collecting methods disguised as speeding and parking fines; whilst politicians (read Tony Blair) seem to have absolutely no sense of shame, people will continue to ignore or bend the rules.

Seigfried, Hampshire,

Being Australian, where it is complusory to vote, I've always wondered why other countries don't have similar laws. I've always liked the complusory voting system as it almost forces you to find out what each candidate is offering you. I also think it makes the pollies work harder as they know they need to appeal to all Aussies not just to the small percentage of people who bother to turn up to vote.

The other reason I like it is that it gives all Aussies the right to complain about their politicians . I've always told my non-voting American friends if you choose not to vote then you have no right to complain about the state of your government or country.

Emma, London,

In a French Presidential election, every vote carries the same weight. In our parliamentary first-past-the-post system, elections are decided by a fraction of the electorate in marginal constituencies. "Why bother?" is a hard question to answer.

Stephen Martin, London,

"The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.". George Orwell, Animal Farm.

I suspect that quote sums up the way large sections of society view the choice of politicians come election time. I certainly hold that view.

sean, merseyside,

"in the last two general elections our governing party has been chosen by a disgraceful 59.4 and 61.5 per cent"

who is disgraced by the figures you quote? I'm afraid I don't feel in the least disgraced because I considered a waste of time voting for political candidates that do not care about public accountability but only about grabbing a seat on the gravy train. It is our political system that is a disgrace, not the voters. As for the decline in public behaviour. That began when the media, of which you are a part, decided to declare war on conventional courtesy because it was seen as a manifestation of despised "middle class" values. The result has been that people no longer have to justify uncouth behaviour. Instead, the rest of us have to defend our objection to it with precious little help from media commentators!

Marion Morrison, Cheltenham,

This is such an excellent article. Having lived in Middle East and all over Africa in my childhood and until 7 years ago returning finally to UK and seeing people in those countries longing for a voice and a right to vote especially across Africa,I am appalled that in this country where so much liberty is on hand, so few people bother to vote,voice any opinion,do anything constructive and then sit at home and complain.Kids under 25 mostly have NO idea what goes on in their own let alone another country, worse they do not care.There is no sense of self pride or responsibility and an overwhelming attitude of Not my Problem or nothing I can do to change anything.There is no passion to ideas at all and no interest except the next binge bout or Glastonbury or some pop star's breast cancer story running and cashed in for for 2 years .This apathy is seriously depressing.
It is not just the right to vote that gets ignored it is that people here do not realsie what a priveledge it is to have

M McGregor, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Mr Cameron was a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately he has arrived too late for my family. Our family life has been destroyed by the sad inability of those in 'power' and 'authority' to curb the anti-soclial behaviour of our neighbour and our only course of action left is to emigrate permanently to a more civilized society.

This Christmas we will have gone and it will take little short of a miracle to bring us back.

There is a small inexaustible part of me that dares to hope Mr Cameron might be able to perform this miracle. But most of me thinks he has the proverbial snowball's chance. I wish him well in trying though.

Michele, Wales,

Perhaps the 40% of people who don't vote don't like the choices presented to them.
I don't like them and I DO vote. I feel like writing "None of the above".

ben o'donnell, benton,

Non-voters proliferate when the Extremistans recede in the memories of spoiled citizens despoiling with neglect, the peace won by their fathers, refreshing the tree of liberty, with the blood of tyrants and soldiers, and with their mother's tears, to misquote Thomas Jefferson. The millions of refugees from slavery in the usual suspect Extremistan "moderate Middle Eastern Allies" nations, will patiently outbreed the old European spoiled socialists, and forced into ghettos, excluded from meaningful employment, will be ripe for exploitation, by the other, more poisonous export of the Levant, their evil madrassas, and hate preaching imams. Unfettered by politically correct socialist fools, those imams, will be funded by the same terror financiers who pour our wobbly petro dollars into their terror financier's war chests, and their sons and daughters into an effort to teach UK, America, Canada, Australia, and NZ the same old lessons, about living at the point of the Extremistan spear.

Franklin Lomax, Alexandira, USA/Virginia

Whereas I agree with most of this article I do think that the, perhaps painful (depends on your POV), unpleasant fact of the matter is that no change is ever going to come from Government, anywhere. Not because Government or Politicians are inherently bad; but because as Institutions they have slipped; just like Countries do. The Church was once the Power Center of Europe and is no longer, no one laments really, and people still believe in their faith if they want. But now it's Governments turn, why whimper, and worse, set ourselves up with unrealistic expectations, like waiting for a group of Politicians (or even Media-Elites or Celebrities) to come marching to the rescue like some collective "Power of Example" to rejuvenate the dis-heartened, downbeat, and pessimistic among us?
A better instance of the notion that "expectations are resentments waiting to happen" would be impossible to imagine. But if that's what happens, we only have ourselves to blame.

Paul Rothwell, La Plata, Argentina

Six millions in this country have Sky television (and thuss, invariably, have a telephone connection to the sets), why can we not use that sort of facility as an alternative voting system? Postal votes are too vulnerable, if two hundred thousand bogus votes swing the election one way of tuther what is democratic in that? The only real way of reviving interest in voting is to get the politicians, who all seem cut off at the waist, out of the TV studio and back into public meetings. You learn more about a man when he is being heckled than ever you would answering pre-agreed questions.

Politics is really celebrity for ugly people. They are no longer workers, specialists, or profound; the ability to read a script prepared for one by a minion is the only qualification, that and seeming combative and right in PMQs.

What is the point of enacting laws here that are only valid and enduring if Brussels agrees. Our legislature is more akin to God's waiting room for democracy soon to pass

malcolm turner, Alsager, England

It is libertarians like Libby Purves who create the conditions for license in a market-driven society, not those who are trying to stem the tide with appropriate state interventon.

Stan Rosenthal, Lindfield, West Sussex

Brian Lewis of Manila writes below: ‘I think I read somewhere that parliament is made of lawyers, teachers and union leaders.’

P.J.O’Rourke, the American humourous writer, has written a book whose eponymous title has another suggestion, though my understanding is that the reference may be to the Washington lobby culture rather than to the UK assembly.

dr venables preller, Warminster, UK

New "crimes" such as dissing the Welsh. So you are for the age old right to dis the Welsh. What about the right to dis Pakistanis, Muslims etc. Not for that I bet. Join the club of the Times crossword editor, who thinks that the use of Welsh in crossword puzzles to mean to cheat, be dishonourable, run away without paying a debt etc.,Is not derogatory. It does not flag up as such in his dictionary.

K. Evans, Taunton, England

Learning the lessons of responsibility. So, David Cameron and the Bullingdon Club will no longer be trashing restaurants in Oxford?

BTW, Libby Purves, have you been reading my blog? For example, "In the primary school playground David Conway, the anonymous writer of the Telegraph story and David Davis are all heard to chant "We are more British than you, nananahnah, nananahah...". Grow up!", or is it coincidence and just a case of great minds think alike?

jailhouselawyer, Hull, UK

I fear that the act of voting in Britain is rather like giving mouth to mouth resuscitation to a corpse: ultimately pointless no matter how hopeful one may be.

Marco, bhm, uk

I sum it up with the well worn and very true phrase:

"you get the government and the politicians you deserve"

We elected them, nobody else, we can remove them, nobody else.

David, St Albans, UK

Why can't we withdraw our vote if we don't like the policies of the Government and give it any time to another party?

As suggested on the Petitions web site Permant voting.

John Blakey, Leeds, UK

Good article - although I'm surprised it isn't accompanied by a report on last Friday's vote by MPs to exempt themselves from the Freedom of Information Act. Even contemplating such a change in law classes parliament as the instigator of the "Up yours" mob. As the previous commenter said, no sane person goes into politics these days unless they are making a career of it. He could have added that anyone considering politics as a career has taken a conscious decision to live of the public tax bill without materially contributing to society's running costs - ever.

By all means vote, however. If you don't like the choice then turn up anyway and spoil the paper. The percentage of spoiled papers has to be recorded and kept. Your postal vote is easy to steal, but if you spoil the paper instead of voting in favour you do send a message.

KR, Stockport,

No Brian. There is no 'divide' disqualifying you from taking part in politics. Indeed its precisely that sort of attitude that has lead to the current mess. Cynicism and the willingness to lay all the blame on someone else is a fashionable excuse and convenient cover for sitting in front of Coronation Street and doing nothing. The reason the lunatics take over the asylum is because everyone else stayed at home. And I am so tired of hearing Brits whinge about how somebody else should do something. Its always someone else!!

I spent 8 years on a borough council and a good part of that involved trying to get Council Estate residents to form a Tenants Association. Oh they were prepared to scream abuse at me on how I didn't care and I was only 'in it' for the money (i,e. the £10 allowance I got for attending Council meetings from 7.30pm to after midnight). But would they form an Association? No. They were too busy. Even those who had been unemployed for years.

Well said Libby!!

Hugh, London,

Perhaps the turnout would be bigger if the electorate could select candidates instead of leaving it to secret societies to choose who they want in government. Maybe that would give all of us a chance to benefit from the type of life experience gained by Brian and other people like him. Either that or be able to vote against candidates we think are unsuitable, or would it be politically incorrect to pucture so many inflated egos? Unfortunately, the best candidates for parliament are probably those who have no desire to hold power over other people and have no connection to political parties.

Paul Groom, London, England

As a middle aged small business owner with teenage children I despair at the state of this country.
We all avidly watched 'Life on Mars' with its unethical comments and sexist views and loved it. Both my children found it amazing that this was the real world in the 70's and thought it was wonderful.
How life has changed, the 70's weren't that good but everyone was more relaxed and everyhting was less urgent. We weren't tied to ridiculous rules and laws, and everyone was expected to have an element of common sense.
All has disappeared and has been turned on it's head, I now find that I even agree with the Freech Sarkozy candidate ! The UK is a pit, full of skivers, wrong doers, everyones cast offs who want something for nothing who soon won't even take responisibilty for breathing!
We need firm rule and we need it now......step forward a new candidate you are long awaited.

Mark, Leicester, UK

The best observation I ever saw about politics was actually some graffiti on a wall in Ladbroke Grove in 1975.
"Who ever you vote for, goverment gets in"
Sums up the mood now as a result of our present goverment and democratic aberrations like Ken Livingstone.

Frank H, London,

I think I read somewhere that parliament is made of lawyers, teachers and union leaders. If you haven't decided to go into politics while at university, it is hardly worth trying. There seems to be a divide in British society that disqualifies most of us from taking part in politics because once a career is chosen it is fixed for life. It is said no intelligent person would go into local politics these days because the centre decides all! I recently spent 12 years in the Middle East and 17 years in Moslem countries. I do wonder whether I might not have been able to contribute something to decisions on Iraq, and there are indeed many able people around who know far more than I do. If one votes at all, what is one voting for in such circumstances?

Brian Lewis, Manila, Philippines

The reason why so many of us fail to vote is that in reality the voters have such little say in the running of the country. A vote every 4 years. Big deal.
Where is the referendum on whether we should stay in Europe?
We are getting a new Prime Minisiter but he is being foisted upon us by a few hundred MPs. Blair promised to run a full term. As ever a lie.
Thus lies and disenfranchisement is why so many of us don't bother to vote. We simply don't think that it will make any differnce one way or the other.
Our form of democracy? It is a big con!

Pip, Bury St. Edmunds, England

Interesting article.
History repeats itself. Study the past. As empires recede the last point of decay is the centre.
The 'Up yours Pompeii or Rome' now I think England attitude indicates a empire/country in decline.
Decadence, corruption and unbelievable incompetence on the increase particularly in business, public service companies and government.
Combined with the constant attempts by government and business to manipulate the media in order to misinform and control the 'chattering classes'.
Exactly how can we change things for the better by voting?
Voting for what? It's too late all the hero's are busy moved out or bought off.
If you want to see the future, look at the past. In my opinion

Douglas , Crawley, W Sussex UK

I think you've failed to demonstrate a connection between poor civic behaviour and voter turnout. I was in Britain and France six months ago and I didn't notice that the French scored any better on the parameters you mention. Additionally, and despite the distance, I have follwed the French Election reasonably closely. I am unable to discern a single concrete policy in the utterances of either of the thus far two successful candidates. It's frankly astonishing that 85% of French bothered.

James , Canberra, Australia.

Iain Duncan Smith fought an election on the platform of keeping the pound. He lost, and we kept the pound. That's probably a good thing - it was the right policy, after all - but it does mean that there is little point in voting.

Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK

Well said Libby (apart form your support of Cameron that is). It's dreadful that people don't bother to vote, especially considering what middle and working class men, and later, women, had to go through to get the right of suffrage. A society that doesn't bother to exercise its democratic right is a society without responsibility - and that in turn leads to apathy and disaffection - a vicious circle.

Helen, WC1, UK

The usual utter garbage.
The middle-classes showed us they care little for anything but themselves when they voted for Thatcher. They are now on the verge of doing it again.
I'd rather the majority of people made things difficult for them. Wouldn't anyone?

KingKerouac, London,

What an excellent article by Libby Purves.

Particularly, we certainly should all vote in all elections; lack of such engagement should, properly thought informally, reduce our right to complain about government.

If we favour voting for any of the candidates, that is excellent.

However, if we do not favour any of the candidates for any set of reasons, we should still take the trouble to vote. In such circumstances we should vote with a blank or spoilt ballot paper, preferably by writing an explicit "None of These" or "NOT".

And currently, pending a change to electoral law permitting a formal abstention, if no candidate achieves more votes than those that are blank/spoilt/NOT, surely no candidate should be elected.

Best regards

Nigel Sedgwick, Beaconsfield, UK

I disagree that voting will make politicians better at being politicians. I fear it will suggest to them they can lie and cheat and be as corrupt as they want, and people will still vote for them, almost confirming they can do what they want.

We need a 'none-of-the-above' voting option, or at least remove the whole concept of a 'party whip', so if you vote a candidate in, you know they will be voting in the commons for whatever is best for their constituents, rather than what their party tell them to.

We need less power-crazy people in control, people who don't 'fiddle' the inheritence tax laws so they can save paying money on 1.5 million pound houses, but people who want the country better, not police states.

Sadly, we don't have anyone, in any party, at this time who thinks that way.

Arthur, Newcastle,