For as long as I can remember, we have been largely ignored by both parties.

Our representatives have been largely unimpressive: nodding their heads behind their leaders at press conferences or spruiking ideological party lines. Any show of colour or initiative is quickly dashed by the need to toe the party line.

I would urge all those rusted-on, dyed-in-the-wool ALP voters (and I confess I was once one) to take off the rose-coloured glasses they donned in the heady days of Gough, or Hawke or Keating, and notice the sad drabness of the party hacks dished up before us.

It's no wonder the Americans fall for the Trump card, or Brits vote for a Brexit. Even when the colour is "lunacy" it's seen as better than the oppressive and expensive dull grey currently forced on us by all parties.

Peter White, Downer

Looks like Bill Shorten has blown it. The demise began when he showed a lack of discipline by allowing candidates who were soft on people-smugglers to express their views, and allowed the impression that he would cosy-up to the Greens if it became necessary.

The final nail in the coffin was his proposal to increase the deficit in the short term with a unsustainable promise to reach a surplus in 10 years' time. As both a student and a practitioner of politics, I cannot see how both he and his advisers allowed this election to slip away.

Ric Hingee, Duffy

We object to the proposal to build a sports stadium at the current Olympic Pool site in Civic.

Stadiums, with their vast blank facades and huge car parks, are alienating structures, creating cultural deserts in their near vicinity. Having such a building on the edge of Civic would be at odds with the government's plans to remake Constitution Avenue into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly boulevard. We are also concerned about the government's planning and decision-making processes.

It often seems a short step (from the community's perspective, anyway) from a "proposed" stadium in Civic to a definite decision – a fait accompli – with very little community consultation. How much real consultation has there been on the stadium?

We have spoken to a number of people, including people who swim regularly at the pool, and they have not heard about the stadium proposal.

We believe the community needs more consultation on this matter.

I. Davies and A. Forsythe, Ainslie

Leave the Civic swimming and diving complex where it is in the city's centre. I have swum there since 1958 and now that I have serious mobility issues it is the only pool which has, for lap swimming, lovely sloping stepways into the main pool.

Dickson Pool is also set in lovely grounds but the main pool has only climb-down-the-wall slots into the main pool – and it is only open in summer.

Fiona MacDonald Brand, Lyneham

The tidal wave of outrage at the exit vote in Britain will, I have no doubt, continue to batter us for a long time. All the "Superior People" are elbowing each other out of the way, impatient to explain to us that the decision is little short of madness; that it will impoverish Britain, destroy the economy, and provoke an explosion of xenophobia.

Bankers, academics, financiers, politicians and economists are unanimous in their gleeful predictions of Armageddon, and look forward with barely concealed relish to the disastrous impact it will have on those old, stupid, ignorant, uneducated racists who ignored their urging to stay. Of course, one can understand the pain the elites must be feeling: they have been cut off from the EU, a gravy train second only to the United Nations.

None of this should surprise us. Here, too, we are familiar with those bien pensants who have the monopoly of enlightened opinion, and only contempt for those holding different views.

Alan N. Cowan, Yarralumla

It has been most entertaining over the past few days to behold the national-security types running in circles and filling their collective trousers over the Brexit vote.

What terrifies them is the prospect that Britain will no longer be able to perform her assigned role as Washington's Trojan horse in the councils of Europe. It seems they fear that Brexit may have dropped a rather large spanner into the works of the hegemon's plans for military confrontation with Russia. If so, for everyone's sake I sincerely hope their fears are confirmed.

The result of the Brexit referendum has most gratifyingly confirmed my belief in the basic decency and commonsense of the people of my British homeland. The last such occasion was the historic vote of August 2013 when the House of Commons refused to go along with the planned attack on Syria over the sarin gas false-flag stunt. I hope, but don't expect, that the American people will show similar wisdom in November and deny the warmonger Hillary Clinton access to the reins of power in that country.

Bernard Davis, O'Connor

James Jupp (Letters, June 28) claims the EU "has sustained peace, prosperity and co-operation in once war-torn Europe." In fact, Pax Americana, led by the US commitment to NATO, is what has primarily kept Europe safe and encouraged prosperity. It all started 70 years ago with the Marshall Plan to re-build Europe after the destruction of World War II. In contrast the Soviets stripped eastern Europe of infrastructure as war reparations.

The EU began as a friendly, competitive, economic hedge against American financial power in the continent. Furthermore, should the US pull out of NATO, Europeans will have to choose between increased defence spending or the welfare state.

Gerry Murphy, Braddon

Regarding Brexit, James Jupp (Letters, June 28), claims to be "a loyal and devoted dual citizen". Loyal to two countries? Who's he pick if we have a war with the remnants of the UK?

This leads me on to my other rant for today, the use of the term Lebanese-Australian, Vietnamese-Australian, et al.

Personally I prefer the term Australian. It may just be jealousy that I can't get dual citizenship due to the fact that my ancestors have been here hundreds of years. Perhaps I should go back centuries and describe myself as Welsh-Scottish-Irish-English and who-knows-what-Australian? Or we could all revert to calling ourselves African-Australians to signify that the first humans on earth came from Africa. Endeth the rant.

Robert Johnston, Pearce

How many recorded messages does it take before an unwanted recorded phone call from a political party constitutes harassment?

Six? How many times does the Liberal Party have to be told that I do not want any more phone calls from them or anyone else. More than six.

Is anyone out there listening? Why are political parties exempt from contacting people whose landline numbers are listed on the "do not call" register?

Perhaps my only recourse now is to call "I am offended" in the hope that someone will put an end to this disgraceful behaviour.

Ms Vanessa Lauf, Bungendore, NSW

Like many others I have had enough of the Australian media's obsession with Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic at Wimbledon. Both are arrogant little children and a disgrace to this country. I hope both are knocked out early.

In any case, I will not watch either, as there are many other classy players likely to progress.

John Kinsella, Hawker

James Pearson's letter (June 29) is a textbook example of how lobby groups like the ACCI put ideology above evidence and forget their history. Ross Gittins ("PM's company tax cut would leave shareholders out in cold", BusinessDay, June 27, p9) correctly pointed out that Australian residents, because of Australia's imputation system, do not benefit from a reduction in the company tax rate. The benefit overwhelmingly goes to non-residents.

Pearson did not dispute this but asserted that it would promote more investment and growth. What he didn't say was that the massive investment flows which underpinned the recently departed mining boom occurred under the 30 per cent tax rate established in 2001-02. Apart from the current 30 per cent tax rate not discouraging foreign investment, what this means is that those investments will just get a giant free kick.

When the Howard government cut the company tax rate to 30 per cent from 36 per cent, following the Ralph Business Tax System Review, the measure was largely funded by the removal of accelerated depreciated allowances. Since then, various lobby groups have assiduously worked to have those allowances reinstated in various guises. The tax cuts of the early 2000s are a major contributor to today's deficits and debt.

Mike Buckley, Barton

James Pearson is either unaware of advances in economic understanding in the past 30 years, or is simply remunerated handsomely enough that looking foolish in public is of little concern. Ronald Reagan's application of trickle-down economics in the 1980s has been thoroughly scrutinised and roundly panned.

Even that bastion of conservative economic doctrine the International Monetary Fund, in a report released last year titled "Causes and Consequences of Income Inequality: A Global Perspective", found that countries looking to boost economic growth should concentrate their efforts on the lower segments of society rather than bolstering so-called "job creators" with tax breaks. I can't help thinking people like Pearson understand the consequences of what they propose, and don't mind one bit.

James Allan, Narrabundah

ASSETS RECOVERY

With a finding of guilt against Eddie Obeid, is it too much to hope the NSW Crime Commission is doing its job and exercising its responsibilities under the Criminal Assets Recovery Act 1990?

John Murray, Ben Bullen, NSW

KLINK IN CHARGE

Having spent three months in Calvary Hospital after a stroke in May 2013, I can inform Philip Fowler (Letters, June 28) that Colonel Klink is in charge at the hospital. There is no chain of authority to ensure that relevant standards are maintained and that patients receive the best possible care in a polite and friendly manner. I should mention that in all the time I was there I did not escape.

Nick Blackaby, Flynn

WELFARE CRACKDOWN

Three days out from the election we learned the Coalition plans a welfare crackdown ("Libs plan a $2.3b welfare crunch", June 29, p1). If those welfare savings are there, why didn't the Coalition do something about them in the past three years? Malcolm Turnbull is not credible.

Bill Bowron, Farrer

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

I'm an enthusiastic supporter of free speech but every now and then something gives me pause for reflection. Patrick Jones's letter (June 29) was one such thing, skirting dangerously close to the boundaries of vilification. Some things are not worthy of publication.

Penny Farnsworth, Fadden

COMPANY TAX RATE CUT

With respect, James Pearson (Letters, June 29), a cut to the company tax rate will do little to encourage overseas corporations to invest in Australia. Most already pay no tax, and they get subsidised by the Tax Office as well, so our (optional for foreigners) tax regime is no disincentive at all!

Stuart Kennedy, Birtinya, Qld

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