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Mar-a-Lago raids
The Democrats have seemingly got what they wanted, an intervention by the FBI into Donald Trump (“Trump goes on offensive after FBI raid”, The Age, 10/8). With Trump tied up in criminal proceedings, which will take forever, he will hardly be in a position to run for president again.
He cites the raid as being typical of Third World countries riddled by corruption. He fails to understand that his type of democracy led an unlawful insurgency into the very heart of democracy, the chambers of Congress. The raid indeed celebrates the very basis of democracy, that no one is above the law.
John Rome, Mt Lawley, WA
Painful but necessary
The raid on former president Donald Trump’s Florida home is a very concerning development and could well be one further step along the path to civil war, or at least to substantial armed conflict. I’m not suggesting that Trump doesn’t need to be investigated and charged with criminal conduct because clearly he does, as has been demonstrated by the work of the January 6 committee.
However, the US is divided to an extent rarely seen and extremist views abound, particularly on the right. Much will depend on Trump’s reaction. We saw on January 6 how he can summon his supporters to take extreme action and this is certainly possible again.
Such action as taken by the FBI and recently by the Justice Department is concerning but not to do so would be to give up on democracy and the rule of law.
Rod Evans, Parkville
Justice is blind
The FBI are coming for you, Donald Trump. Orange is your natural colour.
Alan Williams, Port Melbourne
Deliberately undermining democracy
Many commentators continue to say that Donald Trump is convinced he won the 2020 presidential election. This is absolute nonsense. He and everyone else knows he lost convincingly to Joe Biden. He had no interest in the legitimate outcome of the fair, democratic election. The January 6 insurrection and his encouragement of protesters to march on the Capitol represents clear evidence of that.
Tony Delaney, Warrnambool
The republic that many want
Yes, it is a “banana republic” when a losing president refuses to accept that he lost fair and square, and sets his dogs onto the legislature to stop the formal certification of the transfer of power. A banana republic that is supported by about 40 per cent of the population.
Michael Helman, St Kilda East
No end to instability
“There is suddenly a very real risk of violent political instability in [the United States] for the first time in more than 150 years,” Joel Pollak, a senior editor at the right-wing outlet Breitbart News, said in response to the raid on Trump’s Florida property by the FBI. He obviously has a very short memory. He only need cast his mind back to January 6, 2021, with the storming of the Capitol.
Alan Inchley, Frankston
Assaults given and received
Talk about Donald Trump’s double standards. He’s horrified that there has been a (legal) assault on his house, but thinks it was OK for the assault by armed vigilantes on Capitol Hill.
John Groom, Bentleigh
America choosing another path to greatness
Former US president Donald Trump’s mantra has been “make America great again” and, ironically, with the Justice Department and the FBI finally moving on the man, it seems that America may well be, soon, great again in the eyes of the watching world. More power to the US legal system: god speed.
Merv C Bartlett, Pallara, Qld
THE FORUM
Losing sight of people
I have been appalled to read about the councils putting the Home Support Program Services they’d previously operated into privately run businesses (“Nobody has checked I’m alive”, The Age, 9/8). We have already seen how that has not worked well with the NDIS. I think such a move rips the heart of the council’s roles. The Home Support Program is a wonderful way for the council to understand the care needs of the people they serve. They are also the ones who know the area well and can adapt the service to that area.
Over 45 years, I have worked in the community as a community health nurse, and the back bone of the care to the aged and disabled has always been the councils. Generally, they have done a wonderfully dedicated job.
I know that times and services are changing but we are going to have a huge mess on our hands and once again the vulnerable will be the ones to suffer.
Jane Cheong, Aspendale Gardens
Care will suffer
The Mornington Peninsula mayor cites the federal government’s transition to an open-market system and the “need to ensure our residents had the choice and the advantages of a competitive market environment” in his explanation of the in-home care debacle. The flaws are clear: it is the government and councils, not the residents who benefit from an open-market system here, for there is no choice and no advantage to residents when no care is available.
Emma Borghesi, Rye
Providers had warning
Contrary to what your correspondent suggests (Letters, 10/8), it is not councils’ behaviour that is disgraceful in leaving thousands of residents without carers, it is that of the private providers. These transitions were planned months ago. The private providers have no excuse for not recognising that they would be unable to recruit new staff.
The only honourable, moral and ethical course would have been for them to negotiate with the outgoing employees and offer them attractive pay and conditions until such time as they were able to recruit, although with the rates and conditions they offer, especially no paid travel time, this would have taken a long time.
It is time to accept that for-profit and human services do not mix well. The aged care sector is in crisis. Federally, there is hope but it is going to take a monumental amount of work to get it sorted. Charlotte Brewer, Shepparton
Who should be consulted?
In response to Ray Pastoors and others who signed the petition against the name change for Moreland to Merri-bek (“Push for more say on Moreland name”, The Age, 10/8), how ironic that a group of white residents and private land owners are objecting to a lack of consultation on a matter that is important to the traditional land owners. If only the voices for consultation could have been heard in 1835.
Rodney Spark & Linda Bennett, Brunswick
Name change too much
Without proper information and consultation, it is impossible for residents to understand and support why we should have to undergo a name change. If unfortunate connections were found in your closet, should you go the deed poll?
Peter Drum, Coburg
A name bestowed
I sympathise with those who want more say in the naming of their local government area. I was a resident of a small area of about 200 houses, separated from the rest of Yarra municipality by more than a kilometre of parkland just so Yarra could have the rates for the Alphington paper mill. No consultation. No consideration of the fact that we were hived off the old Northcote Council, with the rest of Alphington in the city of Darebin.
As I recall, the names were given without consultation, and Moreland would have been in that situation also – a name bestowed on the area by some bureaucrat or politician. There was at least some consultation over Merri-bek, and it seems as good as any, given that the Merri Creek is a significant feature in the area.
John Pinniger, Fairfield
A true disconnect
Your correspondent’s report that disconnection from the gas supply would cost them $1000 is outrageous (Letters, 10/8). It will just encourage people to try to do so for themselves.
Meg McPherson, Brighton
The waiting game
Years ago, I disconnected my gas supply and cancelled my account. A few years later, the gas supplier wanted to charge me for the maintenance of the pipes bringing gas to homes across Perth (and also for a technician to spend five minutes a year casting his eye on the meter), and offered to open a new account for me, free, so they could bill me. I refused, and told them where to go. Then they offered to remove the meter again for a considerable fee. I refused again. Recently, they removed the meter for nothing. I’d recommend ignoring the gas supplier, and seeing what happens. If you don’t have an account with them, I can’t see that they can do anything.
Wayne Robinson, Kingsley, WA
Workers brought to table
Good to see The Age giving front page space to the ACTU in its efforts to join the major national economics debate in 2022 (“ACTU pushes radical plan for an economic overhaul”, 10/8). For some time, the national discussions about the economy have been led by various economists proposing a range of policies and by major business employers with an apparent absence from the unions.
It is positive that the federal government is organising a so-called jobs summit which is vital for all Australian workers. It was certainly time for an ACTU voice to be heard again.
Barry Donovan, Aireys Inlet
Offer alternatives
After being probably the worst, do-nothing government in living memory, this Coalition seems determined to become the most irrelevant opposition in history (“Coalition must align with the times”, Comment, 10/8). It has put itself on the sidelines of climate reform and is now refusing to participate in the upcoming jobs and economic summit. The way things are headed, this mob will surpass that of Tony Abbott in terms of negativity.
For the sake of your own party membership and the whole country, accept the fact you lost this election and provide something constructive for the future. Provide something positive, some alternative, please.
Royce Bennett, Baxter
Go even further
In “Tackling climate crisis: Is a 43% emissions cut enough?” (The Age, 10/8), Liam Mannix is asking a fundamental question. Most Australians would answer no. In fact, the Climate Council highlights science that demands a 74 per cent cut by 2030, plus no new fossil fuel mines.
The two main reasons those measures are best: they may save us from the worst extreme climate events; and we must be doing our fair share in reducing global emissions.
Barbara Fraser, Burwood
Olivia the matchmaker
While living in Sri Lanka in 2006, I attended a costume party (expats love a themed party) and Olivia Newton-John’s Summer Nights started playing. Another guest hammed it up with me and knew all the moves. It was my idea of heaven after growing up with boys who stood awkwardly at the sidelines watching the girls dance. He’s now my husband. Thanks ONJ for a lifetime of memories.
Sara McMillan, Frankston South
Currency questions
Why is the Reserve Bank of Australia looking at its own digital currency (“RBA to trial a digital currency”, The Age, 10/8)? If the digital currency is to be locked to the dollar, then the same benefits of ease of use can be achieved through online bank transfers.
The apparent use of most cryptocurrencies is either for illegal purchases or for its potential speculative gain in value.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill
Crypto doubts
The RBA’s plan “to trial a digital currency” risks being interpreted as an endorsement of cryptocurrency generally. The marketing of these “products” is more often characterised by scams than good practice. Personally, I don’t understand blockchain technology and wouldn’t touch money based on it with a barge pole. The RBA governor’s comments about moving on from gold, silver and paper and polymer notes only add to my confusion.
Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills
Don’t dishonour golf
Reports of Cameron Smith’s defection to Greg Norman’s “blood money” LIV quasi-golf tour are dismaying (“‘I’m a man of my word’: Smith coy on LIV defection in return after Open win”, The Age, 10/8). It symbolises a world where, more broadly, a Trump-style amoral ethical code is triumphing. Materialism and disdain for history now abound, sadly. The civility and etiquette of golf, deriving from the St Andrews course tradition, is highly regarded by golfers around the world from weekly hackers like myself to legends like Nicklaus and Woods and before them Sam Snead and Gene Saracen and others. It is golf’s raison d’être. Golf is being diminished.
Jon McMillan, Mount Eliza
Focus on perpetrator
Julie Szego’s assertion that we have seen a revival of some of radical feminist Andrea Dworkin’s ideas in the #MeToo era is adept (“Has ‘no means no’ become ‘only “yes” means yes’?,” 10/8).
Despite the tenuous argument being promulgated by some defence lawyers such that the new Victorian sexual offence laws may precipitate a “serious potential to criminalise cases that don’t presently make the cut for rape”, it is a red herring masking their real concern of their job suddenly becoming much harder to defend indefensible conduct. New Victorian sexual assault laws “won’t end the sexual inequities that can turn a fun night out into a lifelong nightmare”, but at least will help shift our cultural lens over time from the victim’s to the perpetrator’s behaviour.
Jelena Rosic, Mornington
And another thing
Illustration: Matt GoldingCredit:
Federal politics
Peter Dutton clearly does not grasp the meaning of the word “diplomacy” (“We need to be ‘frank and honest’ about China’s actions: Dutton”, 10/8). Nor the importance of China for our exporters. Thank goodness he’s no longer in charge of our security.
Ian Robinson, Cowes
Peter Dutton will never be accused of being overly diplomatic.
John Walsh, Watsonia
Chris Uhlmann writes that the Liberals need to get into the 21st century to survive. A good start would be appointing Andrew Hastie as leader.
Ian Hetherington, Moama
Given that Sussan Ley is a deputy leader of the alternative government, she could consider that saying no to every opportunity to engage constructively might itself be considered a stunt.
Jane Edwards, Peterhead
Your correspondents have suggested the referendum have two questions (Letters, 8/10), then three (Letters, 9/10). I raise you to six: questions on Voice, a republic, four-year terms, the flag, the national anthem, and the name Australia.
Pam Cupper, Dimboola
Furthermore
The councils that discontinue home care to the elderly could make the end painless by supplying a “peace pill” to the “disposable oldies”.
Kishor Dabke, Mount Waverley
Given the high cost of living I have had to make a core promise to myself: eating apple cores, and not wasting any foods.
Steve Barrett, Glenbrook
On the subject of when to give up on a book, you may stop after you have read 100 pages minus your age.
Jules Klok, Noble Park
Judging by the chaos, I thought the Qantas executives were already doing the baggage handling.
Ron Mather, Melbourne
What a moving tribute to Olivia Newton-John by Neil McMahon. Not just a singer. Not just a star. A heart of pure gold.
David Allen, Bayswater North
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