HAVING read the letters in last week’s Advertiser, I too am ‘feeling strangely disturbed’, by Anne Storer’s somewhat anomalous public service announcement alerting us to the possibility of being besieged by political canvassers in the coming months.

Quite what she is complaining about /alerting us to?

That we are among those fortunate enough to live in a country where democracy and freedom of speech are a right?

That women are emancipated and have the liberty to vote for a party or person of their own choosing?

That we live in a land where no one threatens to cut off our fingers or torture our children if we have the temerity to vote?

Perhaps we would all do well to think about how many of our young service personnel died this summer endeavouring to allow Afghan voters the same freedoms we now take for granted.

As to being besieged. Bunkum! If party workers knock at your door and you do not wish to engage in debate just politely thank them and say goodbye. Whatever your political persuasion surely the fact that there are people passionate enough about our country’s future, our own and our children’s future, to spend long, footslogging hours noting complaints and soliciting opinions is something to be appreciative of. Particularly if you are a woman.

It is almost 91 years since British women over 30 first voted in an election, only 80 years since all women gained that right. Has the suffragettes’ triumph so swiftly become indifference?

I strongly suspect that last week’s correspondent might well be among the most vociferous complainants were her concerns not heard and her views not sought prior to polling day.

Voting is not compulsory here. Yet, perhaps it is time that we all paid more attention and exercised our democratic rights or watch our nation slide further into the abyss of apathy.