Congratulations to Jack Waterford ("Rob Peter's house to pay Joe", Times2, February 18,p1) for his exposition of "political, economic theory 101". Although stumped by the logic of a couple of his characteristically labyrinthine sentences, I am unable to object to any of the broad sentiments he expresses.
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He points out what successive governments have failed to address, perhaps out of political expediency or, worse, following ideological dogma: that it is their proper duty to levy sufficient revenue and then disperse it in terms of services and safety nets for the benefit of the people as a whole.
I hope not to diminish his inspirational essay by adding a conclusion which is hardly original and should be blindingly obvious: that doing so unfairly to the large proportion of the poorer and less influential and favourably to the comparatively tiny number of the wealthy and influential, is to the detriment of almost all eventually.
If intuition and common-sense fail, history at least, repeatedly demonstrates that the distrust of politicians and resentment of authority-in-general which such injustice engenders, results in increasing crime rates and occasionally, insurrection.
The only beneficiaries then are actual and potential psychopaths. Surely not all politicians fall into those categories.
Hugh Gibbon, Pearce
Jack Waterford ("Rob Peter's house to pay Joe", Times2, February 18, p1) discusses taxing the family home and states that neither Labor nor the Coalition will consider doing so because they are both "petrified about punishing the middle class".
If the exemption of the family home from taxation is worth re-considering for the good of the nation, is it too much to hope that the major parties will act in an adult manner and agree on a bipartisan approach? The middle class would then have to work out how to exact retribution on both parties at the same time.
David Pederson, O'Connor
A memo to Abbott
A memo to the Prime Minister and Trade Minister Andrew Robb: It is not "over regulation" that is the issue with country of origin food labelling; it is allowing the public to readily understand, unambiguously, the straightforward information the public rightly demands before it ingests products, provided more cheaply and perhaps significantly exploitably, by multinational conglomerates. The mostly indecipherable information on the packages of these and other products marketed to the masses should not require the decryption talents of WWII's code breakers.
A. Whiddett, Yarralumla
Food regulations
A few years ago I alerted ACT Health to rust in tins of tomatoes. The tins had large patches contaminating the food. I was told then, "Talk to your supermarket. We are not responsible unless it is grown in Australia". Imported foods are not subject to the same regulations as food grown in Australia. It appears that this has not changed: Hepatitis A is being found in imported berries, possibly contaminated with faeces ("More frozen berries recalled over Hepatitis A scare", February 16, p3).
I find it amazing that companies can import food into Australia, and that the food is not subject to the same stringent requirements as food produced here. If supermarkets are sourcing food overseas, making bigger profits, and damaging local industry as a result, they are at least responsible for proving that the product is safe ... before it is allowed into Australia.
J.J. Heywood, Spence
Apology for Hicks
The United States Court of Military Commission Review decision on David Hicks, published on Wednesday, asserts incontrovertibly: "The findings of guilty are set aside and dismissed, and appellant's sentence is vacated." Attorney-General George Brandis ["You don't expect to run into a terrorist at a human rights awards event"] owes Hicks an apology.
As indeed do many other Australians. I expect that Senator Brandis, being an honourable man, will ensure his apology to Hicks is as clear and public and disseminated as widely as his erroneous condemnation in December was!
Judy Bamberger, O'Connor
So, Prime Minister Mr Tony Abbott has rejected calls for an apology to David Hicks. Both the United States and Australian Governments knew Mr Hicks was innocent from day one, and yet he had to suffer imprisonment and torture at Guantanamo Bay for years. Surely highlights just how brave is Mr Hicks, and how timorous is our PM.
Keith Hammond, Campbell
The obesity issue
How sad that the ACT Medicare Local is spending over half a million dollars (Connect Up 4 Kids program) to teach tiny children that their body shape and size is shameful ("Health and exercise tips to help tackle childhood obesity crisis", February 17, p2).
Our children are already growing up in a powerfully negative Australian body culture and co-opting health professionals and parents to further lower their body confidence is not far off cruel and unusual punishment.
Fortunately, according to research, many GPs and many parents steer clear of a negative focus on a child's body shape and size and go directly to other non-stigmatising risk factors such as family food and physical activity to improve health. Some even promote body positive ideas that are (surprise, surprise) associated with higher rates of healthy behaviours. Let's hope it is these latter practices that GPs and parents continue. It is past time for public policy makers to play catch-up.
Helen Kinmonth, Cook
Self-government?
Gai Brodtmann ("Norfolk Island's governance model is in dire straits", Times2, February 18, p5) forgets to mention former Norfolk Island administrator Neil Pope is on the public record as supporting self-government if he got to choose the winners in the last local election. Democracy or manipulating marionette master?
Gai formed part of last year's JSC inquiry into economic reform in Norfolk Island; quite possibly the most biased and politically corrupted in the history of the Australian Parliament. Ten visits to the island appear to have hardened Gai's supercilious, neo-colonialistic resolve to dealing with the community. She will tell us what we think, what is best for us and what we will do. The ALP approach doesn't mention the half billion dollars in forward estimates their plan for Norfolk Island will cost.
At best, Gai must be admired for her courage. After Maxine Cooper's warnings on the ACT Budget, then surely, by Gai's reckoning, Canberra too must lose self-government?
Brett Sanderson, Norfolk Island
Prevent this listing
The ACT Heritage Council's decision to heritage-list public housing on Northbourne Avenue ("Dickson 'eyesores' get heritage protection", February 18, p1) and which "puts a stumbling block in the way of the government's plans for redevelopment [of the precinct]" highlights a serious defect in our heritage-listing arrangements. That is the absence, from the list of criteria that the law requires the council to follow in deciding whether or not to heritage-list something, of what most people would regard as the most important criterion of all – the economic or financial cost of heritage-listing.
'Preserving the past' involves a current and future cost; and it's quite ridiculous that the council isn't required to recognise this. For example, as the news item says, this decision prevents the government (taxpayers) from "increasing density and reaping value from the land" involved – which is obviously desirable economically and financially.
This, plus the fact that it's quite inappropriate to have slum-like buildings along the main entrance to Canberra, surely means the Government should prevent this listing.
R.S. Gilbert, Braddon
Greyhound racing
I was pleased to see Wednesday's editorial ("Greyhound racing faces dark days", Times2, February 18, p2) as this is a serious matter that needs full investigation. I especially support the editor's last paragraph suggesting that 'firm, concrete action is now required' otherwise, 'governments could be pressured and ultimately persuaded to ban greyhound racing altogether'.
It is encouraging to see that the responsible ACT Minister is taking appropriate action. We look forward to hearing about the outcome of [Joy] Burch's discussions at the next meeting with her interstate colleagues. I will also be interested to know if she is able to obtain assurances from other states that greyhounds racing here have not been trained using live bait. Of course, a significant issue raised is the lack of funding of the RSPCA to provide for policing activities and it is to be hoped that the ACT government will do more to assist in this and their other vital work.
It is difficult to comprehend the animal cruelty involved in the live bating of greyhounds and that it has been happening in this 'civilised' country of ours.
Jack Barlow, Curtin
Libraries say no
Most people concerned with the ongoing plight of Indigenous Australians will find Ted Egan's book Due Inheritance published in 2008, very informative, with a set of radical proposals to re-invigorate the Aboriginal community through the attainment of economic strength and a restored cultural integrity.
Ted Egan, is a well know writer, singer and former administrator of the Northern Territory as such is uniquely qualified to write a book that contains a 12-point plan to tackle chronic, systemic problems and strip away the prejudices , platitudes and well-meaning ignorance of the past, by offering fresh ideas – with sincerity and honesty. As a reader of this fine book, I was puzzled when told, without an explanation, by Libraries ACT, on two occasions, that the Library does not intend to purchase Due Inheritance.
Keith McEwan, Bonython
AUTHOR OF MISFORTUNE
David Hicks's declaration of innocence would be more credible if he explained to us all precisely what he was doing in Afghanistan and what his intentions were. As it stands, he is clearly the author of his own misfortune and does not merit an apology from the Australian Government or any Australian.
John Robbins, Farrer
Now that David Hicks is exonerated, on the first day of the Year of the Sheep, I dare say more than a few people will be feeling a bit sheepish. More to the point, I wonder what Neil James is having for lunch – crow, humble pie or one of those, er, sandwiches.
Bernard Davis, O'Connor
A LITTLE RESEARCH
Perhaps Michael Lucas (Letters, Feb 18) could do a little research into the cost to Commonwealth and state/territory governments of educating a child in a government school compared to the contribution per pupil made by those governments to independent schools. It would show John Howell is saving taxpayers significant dollars by sending his children to an independent school.
Michael Kelly, Lyneham
THE MAGNA CARTA
Thanks for giving us Professor Desmond Manderson's excellent article "Un-signing the Magna Carta" (Times2, February 19, p2). Not least because it reminds us of the 1215 signing. Will the feds offer free trips to Runnymede for Magna Carta's 800th anniversary? The Charter is of far more enduring significance than Gallipoli.
Barrie Smillie, Duffy
MANDELA PLACE
It is now 25 years since Nelson Mandela walked free from Robben Island. High time to rename Rhodes Place as Mandela Place. I doubt the SA High Commission will object.
Dereck Rooken-Smith, Hughes
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