Keep it civil

In these exciting times when opportunities are emerging for the citizen to play an active part in determining the future of Scotland, other than as a mere voter, I suggest it might be useful to distinguish between civic society and civil society, which are frequently used, mistakenly, to mean the same thing.

Civil society is the framework within which the citizen operates free of the shackles of the state, whereas the citizen is part of the civic society when he or she participates in organisations created by legislation and the activities, which the state regulates.

In the development of a much more mature democracy than we currently have, the challenge is for the citizen to emerge from the restrictions of mainstream politics, the elites and even civic society.

Civil society is thus the theatre of a truly sovereign people, the vision I hope of those who gathered on Monday “to set out the voice of the Scottish people” (your report, 31 January).

John Milne

Ardgowan Drive

Uddingston

Which of the organisations from “civic Scotland” wishing to see more options on the referendum ballot paper are committed to giving the public a real choice, by offering abolition of the Scottish Parliament as an option? Answer: none.

They only wish to offer choices of which their leaders approve, so their protestations of neutrality towards the outcome should safely be ignored.

Ian Stuart

Park Street

Dingwall

I hesitate to agree with Jeremy Paxman’s comparison of our First Minister to Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe, but has democracy flown the coop in Scotland?

First we have the SNP telling us with relentless monotony that with under 25 per cent of the population’s vote at the last election, it represents “the people of Scotland”.

Now we have the newly and mysteriously formed Civic Scotland, elected by no-one at all, telling us that they are on their chargers and ready to be “the voice of the Scottish people”.

Apparently we are all puzzled by the political arguments surrounding the referendum and need their help.

What a patronising bunch of self-seekers we have here. In our democracy, if we still have one, we elect our representatives to govern on our behalf.

If we don’t like their actions, we get rid of them at the next election. If they misbehave while in office, we have the rule of law to bring them to account.

What rights do the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, the churches, the Scottish Trades’ Union Congress or Reform Scotland have to interpret anything for me or to claim they represent me? None whatsoever.

Maybe they should all get back to their day jobs.

Anne M Keenan

Roshven

Lochailort