Should have the decency and integrity to be identified (From Warrington Guardian)

Should have the decency and integrity to be identified

I have become increasingly concerned at the content and nature of some of the 'anonymous' contributions that have been printed in Points of View in the Warrington Guardian.

There are some very good reasons for some of the correspondents' names and addresses not to be printed. For example, if there was a local issue regarding nuisance youths, where there was a real danger of some kind of anti-social retribution being taken out on the author of the letter, or they were employed in some capacity whereby their position could be compromised.

However, I strongly suspect the page is not being used, as I am sure it was intended, as a valuable point of feedback on many issues for the people of the area and also a way for many to share real concerns, or moments where faith is restored once again in human nature. Instead it seems, on occasions, that it is being high-jacked for purely political purposes by people hiding behind a cloak of anonymity, for nothing more than that it probably suits their political ambitions to remain in the murky shadows, lurking behind pseudonyms such as 'observer', or 'concerned of Padgate' or such-like.

If someone has a real political point to make then there should not be any issue, shame or guilt about their name being printed, especially if they themselves are involved, or expect to be involved, in the political arena.

After all, don't we expect our politicians to be open and transparent? In which case anyone writing in to the Guardian with a political point to make should have the decency and integrity, to behave in the same way.

Dave Eccles

Turton Close, Birchwood