Letter: American example

From Sally Manders

I note with some concern that Michael Williams, a Republican in Huntsville, Alabama running for Congress, believes that “everyone on Earth should have the same basic rights that Americans are afforded by the US Constitution” (4 May, p 21).

One assumes, without much hope, that democracy would prevail and those of us who far prefer to live under, say, the rights enshrined in the Treaty on European Union, the United Nations charter, or, indeed, the rights enshrined in the constitution of any other nation, would be allowed to do so.

In particular, women should be especially concerned by Williams’s proposal. Female suffrage is not enshrined in the US Constitution and women are only allowed to vote in elections because individual US states have passed their own laws permitting it.

I trust I will be allowed to opt out of having to live under the US Constitution.

Northwood, Middlesex