His gun-toting audience, filled with patriotic fervour, erupted in rapturous applause after he declared that the Obama administration's eight-year "assault" on the Second Amendment's right of freedom to bear arms was finally over, and that this freedom is "a gift from God".

By being the only sitting president to address the convention since Ronald Reagan in 1983, President Trump signalled to the world that America's greatness lies not in the power of diplomacy to avert a major nuclear catastrophe on the Korean Peninsula, but it lies instead in the God-given gift of the barrel of a gun.

Reverend Dr Vincent Zankin, Rivett

The front page article "Houses of Parliament" by Tom McIlroy (Canberra Times, April 29, p1) demonstrates the conflict of interest preventing any useful change to housing policy in Australia.

Our politicians are more in jeopardy from their negative gearing Ponzi scheme than most. The ideal of democracy is never achieved due to human nature, the tendency of the "dead wood", the narcissists and sociopaths, to rise to the top of business and government.

We have no qualifying rules for the highest public servants in the land, with the results plain for all to see.

In 1887 Alexander Tytler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic: "A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury." We who follow the US example, with their unprecedented gulf between the haves, and the have-nots who voted for their wealthy would-be-dictator, seem incapable of learning from history.

Wal Thornhill, Chapman

Once upon time governments used to collect taxes and with those taxes, they built infrastructure for the people.

They did this because it was cheaper than borrowing money and building infrastructure. It was cheaper by the cost of interest, capital gains and dividends it cost the community if they fell into the trap of borrowing money and repaying with money.

Some governments were even smarter, and they printed money rather than borrow money and go into good debt. They kept on taxing instead of going into bad debt, but they never did go into debt except to those they could tax.

Some countries, like the US, had revolutions to stop going into debt to foreign countries, and those countries prospered.

After some wars, some defeated countries received money from their conquerors so they could buy goods and services from those same conquerors. They prospered and learned they need not go into good debt to foreign countries.

Today the Australian government recognises there is good debt and bad debt. Perhaps they can be persuaded that debt from those they cannot tax is unwise and instead build infrastructure with money borrowed from those willing to pay tax and use those taxes instead of going into bad debt to run the country.

Kevin Cox, Ngunnawal

I was interested to read Jack Waterford's piece on Centrelink's "fake" robo-debt fiasco and its cone of silence (Forum, p1, April 29).

I had a similar experience with nbnTM (their typography) recently sending me a circular regarding construction work to commence and giving a 1800 number for more information.

All the options I tried ended with requests to consult the their website, so I did and submitted a query on it.

Five working days later — nothing: there's no one there. Shades of Clarke and Dawe in "Wesley Broadband".

Is "customer service" now a fake phrase?

James Walcott, Mawson

In passing, Tony Walker put his finger on the biggest danger in introducing civics into the school curriculum, that is the "democracy deficit in this country, or, put another way, lack of confidence in the system." ("Making good citizens", May 1, p14).

Having taught the difference between morality (the law) and ethics (a fair go), the curriculum might move onto democracy.

Having taught about universal franchise and government by the people, the teacher might reach an impasse trying to explain the electoral system.

Little Jo(e) might inquire, "But teacher, how can proportional representation, which can give a seat to someone with almost no votes, be regarded as democratic?"

Gary J. Wilson, Macgregor

Like Howard and Abbott when desperate, Malcolm Turnbull is kicking the khaki can.

Throwing men and taxpayers money for an unlimited time into the American madness in the Middle East, which is about oil and weapons testing. The US "alliance" has been no good for us since 1942.

We have rushed into Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Afghanistan, Iraq, now Syria.

We have allowed Darwin to be a US forward base for a possible war against who? Our major trading partner.

Richard Keys, Ainslie

Donald, Malcolm and hangers-on at a black tie dinner. Anniversary of our great and bloody friendship in the Coral Sea. On an iconic warship. Back-slapping and a deal: live refugees one way, Aussie bodies the other.

Barrie Smillie, Duffy

Congratulations to Margaret McBride for her clinical demolition of the federal government's deceitful attempt to restore the discredited "values" of our country's shameful racist past (Letters, April 29).

John Richardson, Wallagoot, NSW

I attended the Majura Bush Festival on Sunday, April 30, along with my family, which included small children.

What an absolutely fantastic day it was – not only the weather but the day itself.

The 12 farmers of the valley should be so proud.

From the time we turned into the location it was evident that all things were well in hand – easy road directions, helpful and friendly directors decked in their distinctive white "Majura Valley" shirts, ample and organised parking, a timetable, plenty of entertainment with a "days of yesteryear" theme – stage coach rides, hay rides, pony rides, shearing demonstrations, woodchopping, whip cracking, dressage demos, musical entertainments, horse versus motorbike challenges, and so on.

The host property was ideal and spacious and the owners were most willing for all visitors to enjoy it all.

It was wonderful to see so many families and younger generations taking advantage and making the most of this opportunity.

And to top it all off, every last cent from the $5 rides was being donated to the families (about 55 in the ACT) who have children with an acquired brain injury.

So so well done Majura Valley. There was not a bored child in sight.

Merran Hunter, Fraser

The appointment of consultants to investigate the extension of light rail to Woden is welcome. The results of the analysis will need to be scrutinised forensically to ensure that the benefits of the project are sufficient to outweigh its costs.

It needs to be established that the investment would exceed the return if the funds had been applied to alternatives, including the extension of public transport services across Canberra, the provision of social housing and investment in education, health and education services.

Despite the commitment of $1billion for the Gungahlin to Civic light rail, it remains unclear what the objective of light rail investment is.

Is it to reduce overall travel in the territory? Is it to reduce car use? Is it to improve connectivity across Canberra? Is it to address climate change? Is it to attract knowledge workers? Is it make Canberra more sustainable and liveable?

If the objective can be clearly established, the merits of alternative strategies to meet the objective can be evaluated.

The Barr-Rattenbury government by its fanatical devotion to light rail is running the risk of sacrificing the efficient running of the city and the welfare of its residents. If the answer is light rail, what is the question?

Mike Quirk, Wanniassa

I was amused to read John Mason's letter (May 1) about his favourite project, the tram.

He thinks I am a Liberal supporter but I have voted Labor all but once in the past 20 years. I am disgusted that Labor is prepared to spend $1 billion for political purposes. Labor used to be the party of principle. Not any more, at least not in the ACT.

I am also a lifelong rail fan, which will surprise him. My opposition to the tram is not a form of hate as he suggests; it arises from the fact that I have spent 10years of my life working with the rail industry.

It is green ideology that trains and trams are always better than cars and buses and you put them in everywhere.

That policy, if implemented, will be a disaster. Rail-based passenger transport is good when put in the right places and I would put more of it in the big cities. But put in the wrong place, it is a disaster.

We will have to wait until the project opens to see but you have to get a pretty good outcome to warrant spending $1 billion and we aren't going to get it.

Stan Marks, Hawker

It was a nice idea from James Walcott (letters, May 1) that lefty public servants sent to the bush might change the politics of the bush, but unfortunately their gain might be our loss.

On the other hand, if we spread out Nationals' voters around the country (or even around a big city) they would never win a House of Representatives seat again. I could support that.

S. W. Davey, Torrens

I was astounded at Barnaby Joyce's claim apropos the Productivity Commission's recommendation that "economic modelling on forced relocation of government departments to regional Australia should not determine final policies" (canberratimes.com.au, April 28).

For decades we have listened to political leaders of both persuasions demanding that all sectors of the economy and public service must increase productivity to guarantee the nation's continued prosperity.

Joyce uses the example of the establishment of Canberra as an example of why productivity shouldn't matter.

Firstly, the establishment of our capital has been a marked success. There is no cost benefits study that proves that the decision was flawed.

Joyce's comparison between this event and his pork-barrelling transfer of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to his own electorate of Armidale beggars belief.

Not only is the forced transfer of the authority reminiscent of tyranny, but it will neither be productive nor will it be of any significant benefit to Armidale.

Its officers will move back to their home town first chance they get.

Joyce should also consider the resentment of the public servants affected, their partners, many of whom are also employed and who will have to give up their jobs, the dislocation of children's schooling and the loss of friendships and other social activities.

Heaven help us.

Arvi Biela, Gordon

GIVE IT A REST

Can we have a temporary moratorium on letters from people shaking their fists and shouting at the sky about the tram? They are increasingly sounding bitter and foolish. Their letters are contributing nothing but stultifying boredom to the usually stimulating letters page.

Steve Ellis, Hackett

THE SMART MOVE

As Barnaby assures us that it is not pork barrelling to move Canberra-based public servants to his electorate, the only logical reason I can find is that he is determined to raise the IQ of his electorate. After all, a number of them did vote for him.

Michael F. Buggy, Torrens

LET'S DRINK TO THAT

Reporting Mark Latham's presence at the Friedman Liberty Conference only prolongs his fight against relevance deprivation.

A less damaging way to ensure he is not forgotten entirely could be to name a beer after him. Latham Bitter anyone?

Tony Judge, Woolgoolga

DEVELOPMENT AT PRICE

We must thank the Treasurer for explaining so clearly that good debt is government debt incurred for developing roads, ports, dams, power generators, airports, pipelines etc. In fact any public infrastructure that can be flogged off to banks and foreign-owned companies.

Ian White, Cook

SUBSIDISING MPS

Why do MPs need the support of taxpayers — $273 a night — to live in their own properties? ("Federal MPs own properties across Canberra's richest suburbs", canberratimes.com.au, April 29).

Michael McCarthy, Deakin

NOT SO BAD AFTER ALL

Housing affordability and rents are a serious problem in Australia. But globally there are an estimated 900million people living in slums.

Rod Matthews, Melbourne, Vic

FESTIVAL GREAT

Many thanks to the organisers, musicians, staff, and vendors at Sunday's Majura Valley Bush Festival. It was a delightful event.

Tom Jackson, Casey

SCOMO MAYBE UNWISE

Scott Morrison's gas tax review brought to mind the sage advice of Yes Minister's Sir Humphrey Appleby: Never set up an inquiry before you know the results.

Thos Puckett, Ashgrove, Qld

JOBS BANE

Apart from Islamic terrorism, the only thing that successive governments have been "globalising" into Australia is unemployment!

Mario Moldoveanu, Frankston

Email: letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au. Send from the message field, not as an attached file. Fax: 6280 2282. Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Canberra Times, PO Box 7155, Canberra Mail Centre, ACT 2610.

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