I AGREE with Mr Maden’s sentiments about the nature of Mr Lee’s letter (Viewpoints, February 18). It seems some issues totally polarise opinion and some vent their frustration in others not agreeing to their point of view, by using abusive and occasionally misleading statements.

Personal abuse and generalised statements (it will be a disaster!) have historically been used by fascist and more recently communist countries, the propaganda tactic being the bigger the untruth and the louder it is shouted, the more likely it will be believed by the people.

Okay, in a totalitarian regime, but I would suggest that readers of the Oxford Mail letters take more notice of reasoned debate.

While I don’t agree with UKIP, I would ask those who think the EU is so successful and our only saviour, why the Eurozone is in a monetary crisis, why many countries are facing years of unprecedented austerity, why 26 million people are unemployed and why even pragmatic German Government officials are worried about racial tensions.

Before everyone shouts “banks”, the Eurozone crisis was mainly the result of uncontrolled borrowing and spending by some Eurozone Governments.

Rather than sleepwalking out of Europe, we could be sleepwalking into an inefficient bureaucratic jungle.

After all, haven’t all the EU bureaucrats and regulations failed to keep horsemeat out of burgers and lasagne!

IAN CUMMINGS Gibson Close Abingdon