LETTERS to the Echo often reflect what the majority of people are thinking, and for once I agree with David Harrison. We are ruled by a Government who has no idea what it is like to be a ordinary citizen or pensioner. The Opposition seem to be even worse. So let's give power back to the people at local level.

I have had it with "Call Me Dave" with his call to ban the standby mode on TVs. And making me feel guilty if I fly off on a well-earned holiday.

Does he really think that a £20 or more green tax on a holiday costing several thousand pounds will put me off? Then he really is green around the gills.

Then he has an idea to pay to park at my out of town supermarket. (Now on the back burner; but do not hold your breath).

Has Mr Cameron ever tried getting a trolley full of the week's groceries home by bus, even if there is one near home? Support local shops, what local shops? Most are now satellites of the superstores.

Parking in town is expensive adds to congestion, and village shops only carry a small selection at higher prices as they do not have the buying power. Let's force people to buy smaller cars by imposing an extra tax - very suitable for a family of six!

I earn my money and should be able to spend it on the car of my choice. It's another case of do what I say not what I do, and might carry more weight if ministers and all Government officials were only supplied with Smart cars or dual powered.

At my age I need light, not a delayed feeble expensive eco-friendly, which seem to have a short life.

Travel by train is a nightmare of standing room only, and delays. How do you get to the station in the first place? There's little room to park your car and no convenient bus.

Has Mr Cameron thought that a ban on luxury cars and 4x4s will destroy one of the few exports we have, as developments depends on support from home sales?

Will there be a ban on dishwashers, and washing machines as we descend in to the pre-industrial revolution.

A article by Michael Berliner of the Ayn Rand Institute succinctly states "The fundamental goal of environmentalism is not clean air and water; the advance of human health and happiness but the demolition of technological/industrial civilisation".

All the pain and green stealth taxes imposed in this country is a drop in the ocean in reducing greenhouse gases while other countries like China, India and the US carry on producing more in one day than we would save in a year.

A Government which has never got anything right may well find in 2010 we are entering a new Ice Age.

P G PEARCE-SMITH, Holbury.