What I really don't get is why so many American voters like Donald Trump. His behaviour is absolutely vile: immature, temperamental, hugely dishonest, abusive, and deranged.

While I find it appalling, it would seem that his core supporters like and even identify with his stupid, crazy, bigoted viciousness.

The thought that there are millions of Donald Trump wannabees in America is seriously scary.

The fortunate corollary is that he's simultaneously alienating huge swathes of everyone else: blacks, hispanics, women, war veterans and their families and supporters, younger voters, even significant chunks of his own party.

With any luck those groups will turn out in large numbers for the presidential election, and he will be McCained.

R. Neville, Fraser

I am puzzled and somewhat amused by the ongoing arguments about the drawbacks of digital versus paper forms in the census.

Irrespective of how the information is submitted the decision to store data for 4 years has been taken. But that does not seem to be the target of discussion. Information submitted in paper form will be handled by a human being for transfer into the system. Thereafter it will be processed exactly the same way as when transferred electronically.

Paper form information is, thus, seen by a person before storage; not so the electronic information which is transferred in a highly encrypted form from you directly into the ABS computer. Which is better is for you to decide. If the issue is that of length of storage of data, the ongoing arguments about paper vs electronic forms does seem strange.

Hari Arora, Stirling

I am a long-term resident of Barton who together with my family enjoy the benefits of living in a heritage rich part of Canberra. This is why I got involved with the Kingston Barton Residents Group to oppose the Grocon and Greater Western Sydney Giants bid to build a mega development around Manuka Oval.

I was offended by the sheer size of the bid, the taking of public land, the secret back-door approach of the proponents and their arrogance in choosing to ignore our concerns especially those residents most impacted by the redevelopment.

As a former journalist who has lived in Canberra since 1972, when I learned of this bid I offered to help in any way of could. I contacted Gary Kent of the Inner South Community Council and Rebecca Scouller, chairperson of the Kingston/Barton Residents Group. Rebecca called me back.

During my brief association with Rebecca I have found her to be a remarkable young woman, totally committed to her group's aims, someone who gives her heart and soul to the task at hand. Through her efforts, Chief Minister Andrew Barr consigned this ill-conceived bid back to the drawing board and a panel of community representatives.

We also owe a vote of thanks to The Canberra Times which has given us a voice.

Ken Begg, Barton

It was argued before the last election that it was not democratic that senators could be elected on very low first preference votes, for example Ricky Muir with 479 first preference votes, Michaela Cash (349), Mathew Canavan (325) and Linda Reynolds (325).

As a consequence, the LNP and the Greens managed to ram through changes to senate voting procedures, with very little public consultation and discussion. With the senate poll now determined, Malcolm Roberts of the One Nation party has been elected on 77 first preference votes only.

The voting changes made to the senate have certainly worked out well, haven't they?

R King, Melba

Here we go again. Shane Rattenbury wants to add religion — always a matter of personal, if irrational, choice – to the list of otherwise intrinsic human matters that are statutorily precluded from "vilification".

On the same day, Robert Wilson (letters, August 4) once again positively invites ridicule and contempt — two of the statutory elements of "vilification" — of his religious beliefs in promulgating the view that his god must be the answer when science is denied or not understood.

Any vilification in the form of incitement to hatred or violence is reprehensible in a civilised society. But freedom requires the scope to pillory those who promote supposed divine intervention by their particular imaginary friend as a causal effect in society or evolution.

Mike Hutchinson, Reid

If we believe God is responsible for all the wonders of the universe why does Eric Hunter (Letters, August 8) assume God has to be answerable for the terrible things? Not logical.

God is all love. Man was given free choice and chose to continue centuries of repeating the same errors time and time again through greed, war and hate and never learning.

Science is discovering more and more. We need to open our minds. The consciousness of many in the world is growing and people are unhappy with the status quo and are ready to learn from the past. I am optimistic for the future as I feel love and spirituality will win eventually.

Heather Sorensen, Kambah

What has happened to The Canberra Times letters section of late? In the past few weeks there's been a proliferation of unlettered climate-change deniers' ramblings, and in recent days the equally deluded bleatings of god-botherers have been getting a free run, with barely any space given to well-written scientific or secular responses.

In the most recent spate of egregious contributions, on August 2 Arthur Connor reassured the LGBTIQ community that Christians accept everyone, except when their imaginary friend tells them not to, and Usman Mahmood claimed that passages in the Quran and the Hadith offering inducements for jihad and death to infidels have nothing to do with modern-day jihadists inflicting death on infidels.

He's welcome to borrow my copies if his are missing some pages.

James Allan, Narrabundah

If PhD student Lei Xiying thinks so little of Australia and continues to insult it he should leave voluntarily or else the government should revoke his visa or the ANU tell him he is no longer wanted here ("ANU student behind nationalist video", August5).

It is always interesting that people such as Lei take it upon themselves to say what they like here and denigrate this country when in China hundreds of people with different views and the lawyers who defend them are being locked up.

Of course it is no surprise that he has been described as one of the Communist Party youth wing's most "energetic pro-party voices" and so we can take with a grain of salt his protestations about the foreign funding of human rights lawyers in China, but even if he was correct it probably means they need funds to do their work which is obstructed or blocked by the Chinese government.

Had he been here in 2008, Lei no doubt would have been one of the many thousands bussed to Canberra orchestrated by the Chinese government to assault, intimidate and harass people protesting China's Tibet policies during the Olympic torch relay.

Eric Hodge, Pearce

Kevin Cox (Letters, August 5) confuses the proposed Gungahlin tram with true light rail infrastructure, such as Sydney's Central to Dulwich Hill line. The former will cross 23 intersections over 12km, some of the busiest in Canberra, whilst the latter crosses just 4 intersections clustered near Central and elsewhere reuses the former Metropolitan Goods railway "right of way". This 13km line uses bridges and tunnels to avoid delays, whereas Capital Metro's own modelling shows their tram increases congestion.

Mr Cox's claim that the Gungahlin tram could be scaled-up to carry "20,000+ per hour" is fanciful. It would require "100+ trams per hour" and a service frequency of about 35 seconds, which means a north or sound bound tram crossing each intersection on average every 18 seconds.

The Victorian Government is spending $2.4 billion to improve safety and reduce congestion by removing 20 level-crossings from Melbourne's suburban roads by 2018. For reasons it cannot coherently explain, the ACT Government seems determined to do the opposite.

Kent Fitch, Nicholls

The ACT Government after the October election will surely be Liberal.

The tram never was sensible and only came about because Greens Rattenbury allowed the minority Labor government to go ahead. It is to be hoped that the electorate will remember the Greens involvement in this and make sure they do not have any power in the next Parliament.

Allistair Coe and the present Opposition are correct in considering what to do when the tram is cancelled and a majority of Canberra voters will expect them to stick to their promise to cancel it.

If all else fails Allistair, you could build a single tram track from Civic to EPIC with a large parking area there to cater for the many hundreds of commuters coming to Canberra from north and west.

The present plans will do nothing to reduce that commuter traffic on Northbourne Ave, as there will be no parking to allow them to use the tram. The devastation of Northbourne Ave and filling the median with concrete and 2 sets of rails was always excessive.

A single track on sleepers with passing loops in Northbourne Ave will be more attractive and of greater capacity than Canberra need for many years to come. This would probably cost about what the default charges will be.

Robert Adams, Ainslie

The National Capital Authority prepares discrete plans to stipulate the desired development outcomes for precincts it controls. They're rarely complied with. The intrusive car park dominating the National Museum site, the severely compromised lakeside Commonwealth Place, and the architecturally disrespectful expansion of the ACT Courts, are examples of disappointing non-conformances.

The self-serving cult of "land economics" is at the core of the problem. At popular New Acton, a relatively compact site on the fringe of the NCA's bailiwick, some think the cult worked.

The more likely outcomes of land economics are revealed in the embarrassingly mediocre blocks of flats sprouting along Constitution Avenue, and the prosaic new ACT Government offices etc., going in next to the Legislative Assembly.

For the NCA's Central National Area, which includes West Basin (unsuitable for blocks of flats), City Hill, Parks Way, and Constitution Avenue, there would be a expectation that development would be about national significance, exemplary architecture, heritage, superlative landscape character, vistas, artworks, optimum public amenity, fine public works, etc., and not about sad property development.Time to show land economics the door, and return to uplifting planning and development in the national capital.

Jack Kershaw, Kambah

The latest in a short line of municipal services provided to us down here in Kambah is footpath crack highlighting.

A couple of guys with a grinding machine have been all round the suburb beavering away at cracks in the pavement, making sure that these defects stand out like the proverbials. They have thereby made it even clearer to us who live here that our footpaths are in a shocking state and that there is no intention in doing anything of substance about this anytime soon.

With an election coming up, the incumbents at Civic Square might have shot themselves on the foot on this one.

Ed Highley, Kambah

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

SHORT ON MEMORY

Perhaps someone should remind Bill Shorten it was the Labor Party that sold off the Commonwealth Bank at a bargain basement price for a short-term financial gain. If the government still controlled the bank it would keep other banks in line through its own ethical practices and competition.

Les Neulinger, Farrer

DON'T BANK ON IT

We are told banks need to satisfy depositors, borrowers and shareholders. This been put forward as the rationale for passing on about 50 per cent of the RBA's cut to borrowers. For even-handedness I can't wait to have only half a future RBA rate increase passed on to borrowers with an appropriate reduction of dividends to shareholders.

Peter Dahler, Calwell

GAMES IN PEACE

Would it not be wonderful if we could go back to the tradition of the original Games at Olympus. This was a holy truce declared for two months during the Games.

Perhaps we could even modernise the tradition and have a period of peace between the present warring political parties.

Paul Fitzwarryne, Yarralumla

ARBORETUM DOOMED

The review of the Arboretum and ACT government's acceptance of its recommendations have officially doomed the project.

They tell us that the overcrowded monoculture forests cannot succeed under current management. A sad, slow, expensive death of what might have been wonderful.

P. A. Marshall, Braidwood, NSW

HELLO, MR CHIPS

Education is complex, but there is nothing better than an inspiring, empathetic and knowledgable teacher.

Rod Matthews, Fairfield, Vic

CAPTAIN INVISIBLE

The royal commission is not off to a great start – better hide and send out Brandis. My interest rates are going lower – better send out Morrison.

If the Prime Minister is only going to appear when there's good news, Australia won't be seeing much of him before his term finishes.

Jeff Bradley, Isaacs

IS IT JUST ME?

I hear the Commonwealth Bank has just announced record profits yet again, this time in the vicinity of $9.5billion.

Meanwhile the average Australian is being told we need to tighten our belts, pay more taxes and receive less benefits. Does anyone else see the connection?

David Doepel, Chapman

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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