ATSB took umbrage at my account of this incident ("Luck stops an air disaster", Times2, July 11, p5), and put a "correcting-the-record" rebuttal on its website. I stand by my article; it has no "factual errors and misunderstandings".

The pilots mishandled control inputs and overloaded the tailplane way beyond its design capability. Nowadays we design aircraft precisely, with no wasted strength "for Mum and the kids". So it is pure luck that the structure held together. The damage was noticed only by luck.

ATSB must be resourced to investigate more speedily. Virgin and the Safety Authority must be held accountable for putting hundreds of passengers at risk. Air safety must not depend on luck.

Martin Aubury, Scullin

According to the Q2 consumer price inflation report, the price of luxuries, like travel, cars and telecommunication equipment, fell. However, the price of medical and hospital services, insurance, automotive fuel, alcohol and tobacco, all rose significantly.

Obviously this isn't great news for people on low incomes, but in a double-whammy for self-funded retirees, the Reserve Bank might react to the CPI by lowering interest rates, which are already at historical lows; this hurts people with a low appetite for risk and an even lower capacity to borrow, who rely on their savings to generate income.

In effect, the RBA is transferring poor people's retirement savings to rich speculators and the government, creating ever greater income and wealth inequality in the process.

While retirees and soon-to-be retirees might be the first victims, the real problem with low interest rates is more fundamental. The Bank for International Settlements said there are "growing clouds of doubt around the continued efficacy of central bank action".

After many years of near-zero interest rates, which distort the economy by discouraging saving and encouraging financial speculation at the expense of productive investment, plus "quantitative easing" and massive government borrowing, most major economies are moribund.

Central bankers are hell-bent on repeating the same behaviour until it produces a different result; they have staked their reputations on Keynesian remedies, and they don't know what else to do because they can't admit that what they have done up to now has all been wrong.

However, their cluelessness pales beside that of our elected representatives, and the voters who keep demanding from the government, more of what it doesn't have.

When the Keynesian delusion crashes head first into immutable economic laws, the fallout will be catastrophic and it won't just be retirees who feel the pain.

D. Zivkovic, Aranda

Federal Labor went within about 13,000 votes, two party preferred, of winning the 2016 election, but of course would have needed these votes to have been in specific seats. Interesting how close the election was when 12,474,110 votes were cast and just several thousand people Australia wide, decided they preferred Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister. The ALP should be proud of coming from nowhere 12 months ago to almost winning government.

John Davenport, Farrer

It is perhaps not as unexpected as it should be that the Centre for Independent Studies has invited P.J. O'Rourke to Australia to comment on the current "insane" political situation ("Your politics 'merely neurotic' compared with ours: O'Rourke", July 28, p9).

May one hope that some of the right-wing think-tankers and like-minded journalists attending his lectures will interrupt their fawning to ask this man to consider his personal contribution to this same situation through his canny marketing of irresponsibility, contempt for foreigners, selfishness and general "outrageousness" as social and political commentary.

Once such a clown was taken seriously as a political commentator, was it surprising that another clown would be taken seriously as a presidential candidate?

H. Simon, Watson

The French priest who was killed in Rouen at the hands of Islamic violence was killed at what Catholics call a "mass". Catholics also reference it as a celebration of "the word and the sacrifice of the altar". The Islamists similarly think that their Caliphate is spread through "word and sacrifice" or what we would call "propaganda and indiscriminate killing".

This may seem to be just religious ritual banging up against each other until one stands on a certain spot on the edge of the lapping waters of Lake Burley Griffin as I did last week on a recent visit to Canberra. It was a typical icy windy day at that spot midway on the axis between federal Parliament House and the Australian War Memorial. Being a Queenslander helped me little to contend with the weather but the foresight of the designers of the nation's capital made up for that disconnect.

At one end of the axis, a place of secular "words" and at the other axis point, the place of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - "the place of supreme secular sacrifice".

One place buried within Capitol Hill, the other nestled in the embrace of Ainslie's lower slopes like a child within the womb. Our capital, our nation is defined around its centre point: the place of words and sacrifice.

The call of present times is for unity of purpose between religion and the secular; between the sacred and the political. That unity will come only with words and sacrifice, with unity between reason and ritual.

As Catholics celebrate 2016 as a "Year of Mercy" with pilgrimages to various churches, there is no better place of pilgrimage than that solitary spot by the lake, summer or winter!

Vincent Hodge, Paddington, Qld

On the basis of the Guardians of the Lake meeting on July27, there seems to be considerable public disquiet about the ACT government's City to Lake and Manuka Green proposals. Not only did the Chief Minister avoid the meeting, but he seems determined to maintain complete silence about both proposals in the lead-up to October's election, presumably because he doesn't want either to become an election issue.

Given the government has steadfastly refused to spend $50million for the Barton Highway flyover, the proposal to spend almost $500million lowering and covering Parkes Way is objectionable. The related proposal to construct a $200million football stadium on the Civic Pool site is even moreobjectionable.

A 40,000-seat stadium is very difficult to justify when Canberra (GIO) Stadium, which has a maximum capacity of 25,500 (and which was upgraded in the late 1990s at a cost of $50million), has easily accommodated the biggest crowds that the Brumbies and Raiders have attracted this season; 16,418 (Brumbies v Crusaders, April24) and 13,907 (Raiders v Bulldogs, May29).

It is completely impossible to justify a $200million stadium on the basis of the teams' lowest crowds; 8559 (Brumbies v Highlanders, July22) and 8328 (Raiders v Cowboys, July11).

If Andrew Barr wants to claim a mandate for the City to the Lake and Manuka Green proposals in the event that the government wins the election, then he should have the courage to speak up for those proposals.

Bruce Taggart, Aranda

Is there nowhere in Canberra that the ACT government will not deem fit to fill in with urban sprawl and multi-unit development? Kingston Foreshore, the proposed Manuka Oval precinct development, the Molonglo Development, the proposed West Basin development. Now West Belconnen, deemed to spill across the beautiful river into NSW with its potential to impact Ginninderra Falls.

Our green spaces and unique wildlife, all of the things that have made Canberra such an attractive and special place to live, are being quickly eroded away. Who benefits? Government coffers and its associated land developers, most who do not even live here. Shame on them all in their quest for profit at the expense of the many of us who live here and have to endure the unsightly view of "toilet block" architecture that takes their place.

Alison Chapple, Macquarie

William Bourke (Letters, July28) is absolutely correct to point out the dangerous folly of an ACT economy over-reliant on housing and servicing a rapidly growing population. What are we building other than accommodation for ever more jobseekers? What will underpin our economy over the long term?

I think William Bourke is right; economic, social and environmental sustainability does require thinking "better not bigger". But are the people ready to make that shift?

Martin Tye, Kaleen

Over the past five years, my property's average unimproved value has apparently increased by 24per cent. However my rates bill is up 80per cent. Bring on October. Bye bye Barr.

Paul Richter, Watson

Can I draw readers attention to a design flaw with modern cars? In the old days, if one was driving as the sun was disappearing over the horizon, the car delivered a reminder to the driver that he/she needed to turn on the lights by not letting them see their dashboard instruments.

These days, new cars come with dashboards that are illuminated when the ignition is on. Accordingly, there is a greater number of cars on the roads that don't have their lights on, because the driver is oblivious to the state of their headlights.

Kim Fitzgerald, Deakin

Along with many others, I have had the pleasure of seeing Connected, which is being presented by QL2 Dance at The Playhouse from July27-30.

QL2 Dance is dedicated to diverse, challenging and rigorous youth dance which develops the next generation of dance-makers and contributes to a dynamic, caring and diverse community. It also rightly claims to make a positive difference to the lives of young people whether they continue in dance, or take their passion to other fields.

In this day and age, when we read a lot about the problems of youth, one can only commend QL2 Dance and its team under artistic director Ruth Osborne for its most laudable objectives, and wish them every success.

John Milne, Chapman

It is increasingly apparent that the ACT is being governed not in the public interest, but as a hip-pocket reaction to the pressure imposed by property developers and licensed clubs and bars ("Last Drinks Safe in the city", July29, p1).

Perhaps Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Minister Shane Rattenbury would like to take the late-night shift at the emergency department of the Canberra or Calvary hospitals – or join police on the beat in Civic – to experience at first hand the dangers inflicted by drunks on other patrons, medical staff and police officers (to say nothing of the personal toll taken on the intoxicated individuals and theirfamilies).

My wife was bumped on two occasions in a row from undertaking important surgery because of the urgent admission of intoxicated persons injured in pub brawls.

Responsible governments offer balanced solutions, not self-serving enslavement to profit-hungry enterprises for quick electoral advantage.

Frank Bergersen, Kambah

TO THE POINT

The Canberra Times wants to hear from you in short bursts. Email views in 50 words or fewer to letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au

PROMOTING GAMBLING

Why does the online gambling industry continue to get massive exposure on free-to-air TV when tobacco and alcohol advertising is restricted? Surely it's time government banned the promotion and advertising of this insidious practice.

Alan McNeil, Weetangera

BROODING ON BRITS

Sam Nona (Letters, July 28) broods unnecessarily. Those Brits queuing at Dover to begin their European vacation were obviously only those from the 48 per cent that voted to remain in Europe.

Martyn Hearle, Narrabundah

RENAME AVENUE

Is it too early to rename Northbourne Avenue to Northbourne Canyon or perhaps Geocon Gorge?

John Simsons, Holt

YOUTH DETENTION

The notion of our caring Commonwealth looking after juvenile detention in the NT could have significant advantages. It would bring together the live export trade and overseas processing. Perhaps an inquiry into brown deaths in custody could confirm the suitability of the youth detention expertise and experience available before they commit.

Howard Styles, Kingston

BARTON ROUNDABOUT

Having recently returned from a trip to Britain and experiencing roundabouts that have traffic lights on them, all I can is it's a pity the ACT election is being held before the scheduled completion of the Barton Highway roundabout. People will not get a chance to see how it operates before voting.

I guess that was intentional.

Anthony Reid, Murrumbateman, NSW

MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION

Stan Marks (Letters, July 28) has added Muslims to his list of betes noires. Yes, awful Muslims certainly exist, just as there are dreadful Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and atheists. But does this make all Muslims bad and intolerant? Muslims are among our best educated and most productive citizens, and we should be pleased that they are living here and making a contribution.

John Mason, Latham

CO-OPERATION TALKS

It appears that "this fellow" (as Bill Shorten called Malcolm Turnbull on several occasions during the campaign) and "that chap" (as I'm sure Malcolm thinks of Bill) are to meet shortly to discuss parliamentary co-operation. May the first fly of the spring be on the wall, and be favourably impressed!

Peter Baskett, Murrumbateman, NSW

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