Theatrics in search of discord, not solutions

Self-interest rule
Your correspondent’s listing of the ″⁣strategies″⁣ that our politicians follow to prolong their political life in the next election (“⁣Apply these easy tricks to stay in government!”″⁣, 25/11) is insightful, accurate and should not be dismissed as mere skepticism.
So, what are the root causes behind blinking political eyes that mostly focus on the next election? Clearly, the sense of satisfaction of ‘getting to the top’ in the dynamics of power games associated with politics: the maximization of generous financial privileges reinforced by long tenures; Securing their future financial prospects beyond their political careers by appeasing and siding with corporate heavyweights to secure lucrative post-politics employment.
It should come as no surprise then that the personal interests of politicians often, but not always, trump and trump the interests of the wider Australian society.
Edward Combes, Wheelers Hill

It’s fossil fuel tax time
While the Labor government and others in parliament complain about the failure to pass new environmental legislation and the mainstream media report on the circus, existing natural environmental and climate conditions continue to deteriorate.
Names like David Attenborough, David Suzuki, James Hansen and thousands of climate scientists have been warning about the disasters facing the world for decades, but most politicians and the wealthy remain fairly indifferent. They have no interest in the future of their grandchildren.
Alone in parliament, the Greens are trying to raise the red flag and do something constructive, although they are always criticized for being perfectionist rather than realistic. Can we please ask Labor governments to search their conscience and introduce much stronger environmental legislation, including a fossil fuel tax?
Greg Bailey, St Andrews

Trump’s erratic ways
Donald Trump’s moral clarity regarding the war in Gaza appears to have escaped him regarding Ukraine. His attitude towards this country was extremely unstable; he blamed the country for starting the war and then promised Russia tomahawk missiles for deep-penetration strikes. His final hesitation is a secretly negotiated peace plan with Russia.
Ukraine is in a bad position under the agreement. It should cede significant territory to Russia, limit the number of its armed forces, and be prohibited from joining NATO. However, frozen Russian funds will be used for the reconstruction of the country.
Besides protecting Ukrainian territory, no action will be taken against Russia for war crimes. Economic sanctions will be lifted and Russia will be invited to the G8 economic forum.
Trump’s proposals do not seem like a solution for peace today. Or maybe. This is just a bold claim and part of Trump’s deal-making process designed to keep all parties focused on the issues.
Martin Newington, Aspendale

Mar-a-Lago ideas
Donald Trump has ordered the immigration crime rate in Australia to be investigated and reported. What right does this man have to interfere in Australian affairs? Pauline Hanson was recently at Mar-a-Lago. Is this the source of this idea?
Yvonne Trevaskis, Hobart

migration of the world
Many were alert to the right-wing governments’ agenda on immigration and race. It is alarming to read (11/25) that the Trump administration believes immigration is an “existential threat to Western civilization.”
s aims to collect data on “crimes committed by Australian immigrants”, it alarmingly and implausibly claims this is part of a “global effort to combat mass migration”. This divisive attitude was recently embarrassingly echoed by Andrew Hastie, who claimed Australians felt like “strangers in our own home”.
Zurich Insurance Group reported last year that extreme weather conditions, rising temperatures and damaged ecosystems threaten the lives of millions of climate refugees. A collective effort is needed to solve the problem of climate migration.
Those on the right are irrational or deliberately unable to establish cause and effect. The world’s richest 10 percent are responsible for two-thirds of global warming observed since 1990. With Trump as their guide, they have no intention of changing.
Fiona Colin, Malvern East

Suggestions for Wilson
The new leader of the Victorian Liberal Party, Jess Wilson, brings a welcome breath of fresh air. If he wins government, I really hope he can deliver real improvements. Victoria certainly needs sharper management and better discipline on spending. But there are many things to consider when looking for savings.
While the corporate tax is federal, taxing large businesses fairly is an option; Stronger national income still supports the programs and systems that states rely on. At the state level, shifting some of the stamp duty to a small annual property tax, particularly on long-vacant homes and disused building sites, would create a more stable and fairer revenue stream. And there are many other structural options that deserve much more attention than the usual cost-cutting discussions.
If Wilson becomes prime minister, I hope he focuses on these larger, long-term opportunities – and that “waste” does not become a polite excuse to squeeze services that have already been stretched to the limit, such penny-pinching often costs more in the long run, sometimes even costing lives. I wish Wilson good luck; Fresh thinking is exactly what Victoria needs.
David Milner, Port of Melbourne

Time will tell
Congratulations to Jess Wilson, enjoy the honeymoon period provided by the fawning media. But within nine months the pressure on the Labor government will need to translate into positive policies at the right costs.
George Reed, Wheelers Hill

Clean air rights
Again ″⁣A call to arms for dangerous criminals″⁣ (25/11). Who doesn’t need to spend time outdoors for their mental and physical health? Worldwide prison standards stipulate the right to spend at least one hour outdoors per day. Victoria’s prison legislation also states ″⁣the right to be outdoors for at least one hour each day″⁣. So what does this mean? If people in prison have nothing more than a small exercise area with a thick wire mesh roof, is this happening outdoors? A court in the ACT recently said no; this was not access to the “open air”.
Victoria’s Human Rights Charter requires that people in prison be treated humanely. Regardless of why a person is in prison – which was the focus of The Age report – everyone has the right to decent living conditions, including genuine access to the outdoors. Victorian prisons need to ensure they comply with these fundamental rights.
Bronwyn Naylor, Elwood

Dismiss Docklands
As a Docklands resident of nearly 20 years I am quite tired of reading disparaging remarks about Docklands; for example, in Dani Valent’s article “Why our reviewer is blown away by this new-hatted Melbourne hotel restaurant”(22/11) he commented ″⁣Docklands: meh″⁣ and ″⁣Pulls out the idea of ​​a destination restaurant in Docklands, which is a tougher sell in Melbourne″⁣ than a night-time grand finale″⁣.
There are plenty of fine restaurants and cafes in Docklands: from Espressionist, which remains open every day of COVID, to a fairly new Vietnamese restaurant highlighting Northern Vietnamese food, to a classic Thai restaurant Thai Thani, an Italian restaurant Sassone, and many other cafes and coffee places.
Ask any long-term resident of Docklands, of which there are thousands. We love living here for many reasons: proximity to shopping and healthcare facilities; excellent and frequent public transportation; an outstanding library, lots of great dining, great views and a short walk to the South Melbourne market, just to name a few.
It is the media that underestimates the location, value and sense of community that residents enjoy living in Docklands. Don’t criticize what you haven’t tried.
Angela Forgan, Docklands

President’s Senecadipality
Much like Stephen Bradbury’s gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics, there have been many comments about luck and serendipity in relation to Travis Head’s practice shoots (″⁣Amid the euphoria of victory, luck is a crucial player″⁣, 25/11).
The great stoic philosopher Seneca wrote: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
A pure, happy accident may occur, but this is ″⁣Senecadipity″⁣, where diligent preparation meets luck (right place at the right time).
Both Bradbury and Head spent many years preparing for this opportunity. It was Senecadipitous that Head raised his hand to open it at a crucial moment in the test match. He knew he was preparing for this moment.
Kevin Brown, Moonlight Plains

dead to me
We no longer say that someone died. No, they “passed”, even funnier, they “passed”. To where? The police do not determine that a person is ″⁣dead″⁣, they are ″⁣dead″⁣.
Does it seem more polite to say “passed” instead of “died”?
Those that go by are words ending in ″⁣ty″⁣.
Every day we put up with ABC hosts and politicians saying ″⁣community″⁣ or ″⁣disability″⁣ that everyone should know better, and it goes on and on.
Is the problem bone laziness, or lack of education, or do pedants like me just have to get over it and put up with the trashing of our language?
Murray Stapleton, Darraweit Guim

AND SOMETHING ELSE

Pauline Hanson
Footballers lose match pay when they are suspended, so Pauline Hanson should not be paid sitting allowance while she is suspended from parliament.
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill

The purpose of the burqa demonstration was to generate more publicity. This person, who spreads hatred and puts women at risk, should not be published anywhere for at least six months.
Joan Logan, South Melbourne

Hanson got what he wanted: publicity.
Alan Williams, Port of Melbourne

Besides
“The only existential threat to Western civilization” is Trump himself. “It’s time,” Albo said. Tell Trump to fuck off.
Jenny Bone, Surrey Hills

Perhaps Trump has given up his pursuit of the Nobel Peace Prize and instead set his sights on Russia’s highest honour, the Order of St Andrew. He will join a esteemed group of recipients that includes Xi Jinping, Mikhail Kalashnikov, Narendra Modi, Alexander Lukashenko and Sergey Lavrov.
Angus McLeod, Cremorne

Due to the $589 million Victorians have had to pay to cancel the Commonwealth Games, I recommend that all Victorians wanting to go to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow pay for their flight tickets.
Ron Mather, Melbourne

Does the BOM know which way the wind is blowing?
Mitch McKenzie, Melbourne

$96.5 million? At this price you would think the BOM site would see a huge improvement. Frankly, for ease of use, the cost should not include any public panel testing.
John Marks, Werribee

It would be nice to see doctors and dentists offering discounts during Black Friday sales.
Pam Thomson, Sandringham

Why hasn’t our all-powerful but higher education insensitive federal Labor government reversed Scott Morrison’s sky-high HEC fees for arts degrees?
Elizabeth Grieb, Port of Melbourne

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