VAL GIBBONS, of Seymour Drive, Dartmouth, writes: Our country's globally respected lawful inheritance, established over centuries, has formed the foundation of numerous democracies around the world. Within our constitution all are equal under the law; arrests must be justified and trials seen to be fair; we are governed by consent; and we are able to choose and dismiss those who tax us and make our laws. This all began to fall apart when, in 1975, the public was duped by the political class into submitting the country to what had been the European Economic Community – a ­trading group – but was in fact the foetus of the United States of Europe. We were to be governed instead by a few thousand unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats who meet in secret, largely appoint each other and cannot, in effect, be sacked. They have a lifetime ­guarantee of immunity from prosecution in connection with their work. They are presided over by a supreme court of whose members few have sat in any court in their own ­countries, and of whom but few have any coherent grasp of ­liberty. They are endowed with the power to suspend the rule of law, effectively at will, and for whatsoever purpose they choose. We should all familiarise ­ourselves with the threat of the European Arrest Warrant. Innocent until proven guilty? Google it to learn how that stands now. On May 7 we could be electing parliamentarians whose business is to rubber-stamp decisions made elsewhere. Between now and then we shall have lots of opportunity to decide the prudent way ­forward to maintain individual security, this country's financial stability and its self-government. February 5 was named as National Voter Registration Day this year, and only if we take personal responsibility to actually vote can we complain legitimately about any ­unpopular outcome.