I have just turned 18 and am enjoying the new liberty that comes with it. Legally an adult, right to a car licence and so on. I also have the right to vote but I doubt whether I’ll be exercising it.

Democracy means being given the right to voice a logical opinion, through the vote, for the benefit of the country. In Malta, this isn’t remotely the case.

Political parties here are treated like football clubs. The vast majority will remain loyal to their parties no matter their proposals or personnel.

To make matters worse, when one initially decides which political party one will vote for, it is based on the allegiance of friends and family not on logic or value of the party.

This isn’t true democracy, it is dictatorship by the ignorant masses.

Populations die in the fight for the right to vote while the Maltese make that right meaningless.

Human beings have been gifted with the brain capacity to reason and formulate their own opinions but we Maltese choose to throw that away when we brainlessly tick a voting slip.

It is inconceivable that one party will always be the better choice.

So if you choose to vote for one party, no matter what, for at least one election cycle your vote would be the wrong choice and detrimental to your country.

Until we can accept that ‘‘enemy parties’’ may have better proposals to the ones that have had a greater influence on us, true democracy will never be achieved.

My views are based simply on the urge and hunger to live in a true democratic country.

Be an educated voter and vote for a better future, not out of pride.