The Treasurer has again confirmed his intent to stay "on plan" with a surplus rather than doing anything to support jobs or incomes or infrastructure or any other services which could treat urgent national issues.
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I have two comments and one question. First of all, it is simple economics 101 that a surplus is not an economic objective: it is one potential strategy for reaching an objective, but it is not an objective.
A surplus is a strategy by which more is taken away in taxes than is delivered in services. A household example of how this works in practice is if we used it to buy our homes: it would mean we would never take out a mortgage (borrow) in order to buy a home, no matter how low interest rates went.
We would just try to save and save and only buy when we had enough to pay in cash (probably never). What an economy that would create!
Second, as C S Lewis famously pointed out: when we are on the wrong path the most progressive person is the one who turns around first.
My question is: "Are we actually getting value for our money from these people who claim to know how to manage the economy but refuse to see even the most basic indicators that they are on the wrong path?"
D Fraser, Oxley
Thank our teachers
I have read numerous articles in your paper about school violence, most recently about the inquiry.
I was in the position in the last week to experience this issue first hand. I witnessed an assistant principal who was called when a child was being violent.
She not only expertly deflected a punch thrown in her direction, she then smoothly escorted the child out of the classroom, enabling the teacher to ensure safety for the rest of the class.
When I approached her after school that afternoon to check she was ok, the casualness in which she shrugged off the incident as all part of the job led me to be impressed by her resilience. It was also sad that this is what the job of teaching has become.
Maybe instead of harassing our teachers for "not doing enough" we need to recognise they are perhaps the one thing literally standing between our children and injury. I thanked her for everything she did for all our children.
Her response to genuine gratitude was to seem more shocked than when the punch was thrown her way. Take the time to thank you child's teacher. You have no idea what they may be doing to shield our children.
Sandy Willis, Rivett
Sanity check please
Israel Folau's recent comments in relation to the perceived connection between recent disasters and his god's wrath, are understandable.
He is but one of hundreds of millions on planet earth who have been indoctrinated into believing in the existence of an all powerful, loving, and compassionate super being who is intent on killing, in the most macabre fashion, all those who do not believe in its existence and dictates.
However, Folau's comments would perhaps be taken far more seriously within the confines of a psychiatric ward. Medical experts would be able to prescribe a course of treatment to eradicate such cruel and self indulgent fantasies.
David Hewett-Lacon, Gowrie
Massive dogs
I write re the article "Renters with pets could still face bias" (November 20, p6).
While agreeing that many people, especially those living alone, benefit emotionally and mentally from having a companion pet (or better two if they leave home without their pet to work), I am alarmed at the increasing size of dogs being housed in apartments and flats.
My main concern is for the welfare of the animals who need lots of space.
In the photograph in the article on page 6 there is no indication as to whether or not the family featured are living in a flat or a house.
That said, it is beyond dispute that both their dogs seem to be approaching the size of Shetland ponies.
Gary Stutsel, Turner
Water is life
The Bishop of Riverina Donald Kirk has described water as "the essence of life" and argued the water market is infringing on the spiritual needs of people in the Murray-Darling Basin.
He has spoken out against water trading and emphasised there is a need to "act now".
He said: "We need to care for the people on the land now... We've lost sight of what water is; it's not a commodity, it the very essence of life. We cannot survive without water".
Bishop Kirk sees the ongoing damage from our Federal government's failed water management, in particular the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
Yet we continue to have a water minister in denial, acknowledging the plan is not perfect but saying it's the best we've got so we will plough on and deliver it "in full and on time" regardless of the damage.
Meanwhile, farmers and communities which rely on them are sacrificed because the political ramifications of decisive action may be too great.
There are short and long term solutions that could save farmers and communities.
If only we had a government that would listen.
An emergency allocation would be a start, halting the unfair situation where all conveyance losses are debited to the productive pool would also be a significant step.
Then there are issues like stopping the unnatural and unnecessary flooding of forests which is causing environmental damage, and addressing some of the evaporation and water wastage at the end of the system.
These are just a start.
All we get are well-paid bureaucrats and the water minister telling us everything is fine.
That is why I will be joining the Convoy to Canberra on December 2 and 3.
We need the Prime Minister to intervene and "can the plan" so Basin Plan 2.0 can be developed, next time around achieving the right balance in water management to protects farmers, communities, the environment and national food security.
Linda Fawns, Deniliquin, NSW
Writer right and wrong
Penelope Upward rightly points out the number of dead and dying trees in Canberra (Letters, November 19). This has been evident for some years. But I don't agree with the point of her letter; that is to criticise the ACT Government for lack of action in removing the dead material with their limited resources.
The real point of the dying trees is as a harbinger of the coming severe climate change that will overwhelm much existing vegetation types in the region unless the electorate gets sensible and votes for a national government that will take real action on climate change and works for global limits on greenhouse gas emissions.
Rod Holesgove, Crace
The naive notion that those who suffer in bushfires, in this case, are guilty is to misunderstand totally the revelation of Christianity.
- Philip Pocock, Coombs
Too dumb to know
It was interesting to read comments about Israel Folau from politicians and letter writers in Tuesday's The Canberra Times.
The naive notion those who suffer in bushfires are being punished is to misunderstand totally the revelation of Christianity.
Most often they are the innocent victims of those who do evil and become Satanic acolytes in the spiritual war between truth and lies.
Most of those who describe themselves as rationalists do not realise the severe limitations of human reasoning, compared to even material reality, ie they are self deluded.
Philip Pocock, Coombs
Restraint commendable
In her article ("Police legitimacy draining away" November 19, p16) about the Hong Kong riots, Carol Anne Goodwin Jones writes critically of the police use of tear gas, pepper spray, water cannons, rubber bullets and firearms.
She makes no mention of the rioters use of petrol bombs, nor the fact someone wounded a policeman with a bow and arrow and that Beijing supporters have been beaten up.
Under British rule, police regulations contained clear instructions on the use of firearms. They were along the lines of "Police will only use their revolver if there are no alternative means available to prevent the imminent death or serious injury of a person."
I have been surprised by the relative restraint of the police when faced by an apparent deluge of petrol bombs.
Now the initial peaceful protests have degenerated into pointless damage, with no apparent leaders on either side who might be capable of bargaining a peaceful cessation, it would not be surprising if Beijing should feel international condemnation is worth the restoration of order by taking Hong Kong under the Communist mantle.
Bill Deane, Chapman
Short back and sides
Paul McElligott (Letters, November 20) laments the fact "no-one is hiring silvers". The sad fact is that once they reach a certain age a lot of men seem to let their standards drop. Losing the beards, having a haircut and leaving the Harley at home might help their job prospects.
M Moore, Bonython
OUT THE ARSONISTS
With evidence emerging many of the recent fires were deliberately lit it would be timely to list all convicted arsonists on a publicly accessible arsonist register. All convicted arsonists should, on release, be subject to electronic bracelet tracking for five years so their movements can be monitored by law enforcement agencies.
Rohan Goyne, Canberra
WASTED MONEY
We would have the funding to better support the ageing population (and the unemployed and those with disabilities) if the government had not blown hundreds of billions of dollars on tax cuts, middle class welfare and concessions for the wealthy.
Greg Fraser, Lyneham
THE FIRST STEP
We are told there is no data to suggest a switch to zero emissions will prevent any bushfires. Of course not. Neither will a switch to a low calorie diet instantly correct my obesity. But a start can be made in the interests of a better future.
Keith Hill, Isaacs
BE WATERWISE
Now may not be the time to talk about it, but is that potable water being used to irrigate the lush green grass roof of Parliament House?
Penleigh Boyd, Reid
PACK A BROLLY
The one good thing about the prediction of a long, hot and dry summer for the ACT is that it was issued by the Canberra bureau. Take your brolly with you.
Byam Wight, Kingston
BUS MYSTERY
Why is the ACT government buying 41 new diesel buses when there are perfectly suitable electric buses available now? We do not need to await an electric bus trial to show Rattenbury, Barr and Steel the way ahead.
M. Silex, Erindale
MISSION FROM GOD
Any arsonist who has lit a bushfire recently could argue, by a process of extrapolation from Israel Folau's claim that the bushfires are just a taste from God to show how God feels about Australia's legalisation of same-sex marriage and abortion, that in lighting the fire he was merely doing 'God's work'.
Bruce Taggart, Aranda
REASONS WHY
Peter Fyfe asks Mr Barr why caravan registration in the ACT is so expensive (Letters, November 18). On the basis that I'm pretty certain Mr Barr won't answer that perfectly reasonable question, I could offer a couple of suggestions that are based on the Barr government's track record: (a) because they can; and (b) to pay for the tram.
Gordon Fyfe, Kambah
VIOLENT PAST
The Treasurer recently said "Unlike the American experience of unity born of conflict, our pathway to nationhood was a peaceful one..." (The Australian, November 15). Recent events in Yuendumu, the latest in a succession of aboriginal deaths both prior and subsequent to our nationhood in and out of custody, I would hardly describe the pathway as "peaceful".
Angela Kueter-Luks, Bruce
PUSH FOR PEACE
Let's rename the Australian War Memorial the Australian Peace Memorial. I suspect the government would suddenly find something else to do with the $500 millon.
Antoinette Bosman, Evatt
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