To the editor: I still do not understand why it is that people who disagree with some thing need to insult those with whom they disagree. Several writers to these pages from the left have writ ten letters about how those on the conservative side have been name calling. Some of us may use a little creative license in our description of our adversaries but we rarely name them and insult their intelligence.

It is Christopher McKinley who needs a civics lesson, not represen tatives Betty Poirier and John Lep -per. We live in a representative democracy. At its most basic level, this means we elect people to repre sent us and they consult with us and vote on issues based on our wishes. We elect these people by voting for them.

The one who receives the majori ty of our votes wins.

Our founding fathers wrote a Con stitution in large part based on the electorate speaking their minds through the ballot box. `` Let the peo ple vote'' was one of the foundation blocks of our form of government.

As for data to support upholding marriage as a union between one man and one woman, don't thou sands of years of civilization have any merit with you? Folks like Mr. McKinley keep por traying this as a human rights issue. Yet, as often as I've asked, I've yet to read or hear from anyone in sup port of gay marriage what human rights they are being deprived of.

If you want to disagree with an issue, please step up and debate it with those who disagree with you.

Do not, however, sully the good names of people who have the moral fortitude to give up a good part of their private lives to serve us as rep resentatives in our government while you sit home and insult them.

Joseph Chabot, North Attleboro