BLUE POLES
A young senator who is striving to be relevant
Liberal senator James Paterson says that Jackson Pollock's artwork Blue Poles – which he believes "belongs" to the federal government – should be sold to pay off some of the national debt. At the same time, wealthy private schools are sitting on multimillion-dollar surpluses (Saturday Age, 8/10) and putting their hands out for government funding.
Last year I visited a country art gallery which had on show 19thcentury Australian impressionist paintings, including by Arthur Streeton, Tom Roberts and Frederick McCubbin. Interestingly, a large number of the works were on loan from a well known private school. Senator, a simple solution: stop giving money to schools which have assets that could easily be converted to facilities, books, furniture etc.
I teach in a state primary school which has a few prints hanging on the walls. Leave Blue Poles alone. Our country is afflicted by a Senate full of unrepresentative, often unheard of until they are elected, idle, theatrical politicians who come out with idiotic statements to make themselves appear relevant.
John Morton, Bendigo
Discrepancy between price and value of art
Those who are unsympathetic to the arts might suggest that we sell Blue Poles for $350 million, put the money into schools or hospitals, and hang a good copy in its place. After all, the BBC series Fake or Fortune is predicated on the difficulty that even highly trained experts have in distinguishing original Rembrandts and Monets from copies. A friend, who is a talented professional artist, can copy any work you care to name, indistinguishable from the real thing (and probably more expertly executed). I do not support selling Blue Poles, but offer this as comment on the ridiculous price (as opposed to value) that such works attract in the investment marketplace.
Colin Simmons, Woodend
Selling cultural treasures is not the answer
What did we do to get this current crop of senators? As if having our intelligence assaulted by climate change deniers, racists, and homophobes was not enough, now we are getting aesthetic advice disguised as economics from a senator whose idea of a nice picture on the wall is probably a framed and autographed football jumper. Don't tell him about the National Gallery of Victoria. Rumour has it that it has a Rembrandt and a Picasso, and pictures by some Australian called Robert Toms – or is that Tom Roberts? – worth a bob or two.
Like so many of his conservative friends, Senator Paterson knows the cost of everything and the cultural and artistic value of nothing. By the way, economically speaking, the presence of Blue Poles has poured so much money into Canberra's economy over the past 40years that it has paid for itself many times over.
Peter Dodds, Montmorency
An icon of the corruption of the art world
Senator James Paterson's proposal is welcome but his reasoning is shaky. While Alan Cooper claims Blue Poles is "magnificent" (Letters, 8/10), the truth is it is an icon of the corruption of the international art world which, for a century, has been bedevilled by inflated market prices and the cult of the pseudo. Blue Poles spits in the face of the grand tradition of Western European art and was purchased at a grossly excessive cost. However, selling it purely to diminish national debt might set a bad precedent of the sacrifice of art to financial need. Let us sell it – but we should replace it with works of genuine art, beautiful, inspiring and profound, such as those of American artist Andrew Wyeth and British artist Simon Palmer.
Nigel Jackson, Belgrave
Nice little earners
While we are at it, why not sell Uluru or the Sydney Harbour Bridge? We shouldn't forget the Melbourne Cup, the Barossa Valley and all of Collingwood. Sell Blue Poles? Hell, no.
Brian Noble, Ferntree Gully
Cost of false degrees
"Exam scam" (Saturday Age, 8/10) detailed how the exam papers of a Chinese student at the University of Melbourne were tampered with, changing a "fail" to a "pass". Reports of cheating allied with education regarded as a market commodity are not new. Warnings of the integrity of the higher education sector heading for a "perfect storm" are belated. The "perfect storm" may be the cost and detriment to a society that employs people who have qualifications but not knowledge and skills. Judging by the incompetence and apparent corruption in many sectors, could this already be upon us?
Deborah Morrison, Malvern East
Cheating? Too easy
Well done, Nick McKenzie and Richard Baker. You have confirmed what honest students at the University of Melbourne have suspected – you can get away with cheating. The reason is our universities' reliance on money from overseas students.
Raelee Hunter, Keilor
The right to respect
Mitt Romney has condemned Donald Trump's misogynistic and sexually aggressive comments as "vile degradations" that "demean our wives and daughters". The fact that the comments have demeaned wives and daughters is not what makes them vile. They are vile because they demean people. Women should be treated and spoken about with dignity and respect as a human right. This treatment should not be a byproduct brought about by their importance in the life of a man. Similarly, Jeb Bush should be outraged at Trump's comments as a person, not as the "grandfather of two precious girls".
Kate Gotlib, Richmond
The Donald's dilemma
Initially, Donald Trump called the video recording a "distraction" and dismissed his comments as "locker-room banter". Yet he also knows the damage they have done. What will we see from now on? His earlier attempts to act and speak in a more presidential manner did not last long, so his bluff and bluster may soon return. However, he may behave in a more respectful manner. Either way, he seems doomed. If he does the former, he risks losing the support of Republicans who have backed him thus far. If he does the latter, he risks losing the support of those attracted to his refusal to follow the rules of polite society.
Rod Wise, Glen Iris
Social problems and...
The closure of the Ford factories is a step closer to the end of our automotive industry. It could lead to job losses of up to 50,000, directly and indirectly. Many people will not work again and the loss of skills and expertise will be significant.
The cost of unemployment and welfare payments will outweigh industry assistance packages. Wider costs of social dislocation, health, law enforcement and loss of future opportunities will be borne by Australia. Failed policies of reliance on trade deals, "offshoring" jobs and selling off assets will leave us in a similar position to the United States and Britain – with a disheartened, deskilled and angry working population.
This economic rationalist orthodoxy is killing Australia. The human and industrial capital could be turned to job creation in renewable energy and transport (eg, electric vehicles). However, this requires an industry policy and imagination, neither of which we have in Canberra.
Dennis O'Connell, Ivanhoe
...and gross inequality
Jessica Irvine downplays the costs of globalisation (Comment, 7/10). The closure of the Ford factories has left us with an ever decreasing industrial base. Global capital movements chase lowest production costs with scant regard for those who are left behind. The car industry has gone to countries such as Thailand. What happens when their wage rates rise? Off to Burma, then East Africa, etc, in a race to the bottom.
Many Australians know someone who has been retrenched from a manufacturing job and has taken work in aged care, fast food, cleaning, all of which involve a pay cut and loss of conditions. Ms Irvine's "new" jobs are not available for these people, especially those with limited education or who are over a certain age. The economic rationalists and free marketeers are the cause of much disquiet in western democracies. Employment is the route to wealth and a stable society. Destroy or limit people's opportunities and you will get gross inequality and unrest.
Geoff Hall, Mentone
Tougher regulation...
The Aged Care Complaints Commissioner's annual report of an increase in complaints about nursing homes (The Age, 7/10) is no surprise. Some providers are out to make make a profit at the expense of our loved ones, as our family has witnessed first hand. Leaving staffing levels to the discretion of providers is outrageous. It urgently needs to be addressed, as well as the introduction of tougher regulation. Our elderly are being treated in a disgraceful manner, especially those with dementia. They deserve much, much better.
Liz Turner, Frankston South
...and many more staff
I hope readers noted the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner' telephone number listed at the end of The Age's article. Until the government reviews the weak staffing regulations legislated in the 1997 Age Care Act, the most common complaint will continue to be about clinical care. As Nita's sad daughter found, her mother's nursing home did not have enough qualified nursing staff. And surprise, surprise. The Benetas' spokesperson appeared to be reading off the same script as the CEOs of our four big banks.
Glenda Addicott, Ringwood East
Great camping rip-off
It costs $56 per night to camp at an unpowered patch of dirt at Wilson's Promontory compared to $62 for a powered site. This is ridiculously expensive and should be reduced to about $40 or even less. Camping should be affordable for families, pensioners and students. At the very least, significant discounts should be offered to students and seniors. We should be encouraging more people to enjoy the beauty of the Prom, not price them out of going there.
Rob Chapman, Brunswick West
Now who do I believe?
Who is more believable? Solicitor–General Justin Gleeson, SC, who is fighting to maintain good communications and legal advice in our Parliament, or Attorney-General George Brandis, who wants to restrict his ministerial colleagues' ability to seek legal advice from Mr Gleeson (The Age, 7/10)? On the balance of probability, it is not a hard one to resolve as to who is telling the truth.
Gregory Clark, Woodend
Shoplifting is a crime
In today's society, no individual's irresponsible actions are ever condemned. Instead blame is implied and justification proffered. Readers who commented on the theft from supermarkets' self-serve checkouts (Letters, 8/10) attempted to downgrade and justify this criminal act. There is talk of corporate social responsibility, but not a word about individual responsibility. As would be expected, there is also no regard for the monetary cost or the continuing diminution of freedoms borne by those who do the right thing.
Robert Boffey, Macleod
Win-win for the banks
Malcolm Turnbull's portrayal of a low-cost banking tribunal as a new solution (Saturday Age, 8/10) is a con. The Financial Ombudsman Service has been in existence in some form or another for many years, at no cost to consumers. It is paid for by the financial services industry. So who will benefit from the new tribunal? The banks, amongst others, of course. Is that Mr Turnbull's big idea to help consumers – save the banks money (which will increase their profits)? And where is the evidence that a new tribunal will be cheaper or more efficient than the Financial Ombudsman Service? This suggestions seems to be aimed at one thing alone: avoiding a royal commission.
Denny Meadows, Hawthorn
PM in thrall to banks
So Malcolm Turnbull checked with the four big banks for their approval before announcing the establishment of a banking tribunal to deal with complaints against them. If he decides to look into the dealings of the drug barons, will he also ask for their permission? Arguably the banks have damaged as many families as have the drug barons – only in different ways.
Meg Paul, Camberwell
Cruelty amid glamour
Foie gras on the menu at the races ("Top chefs serve up Caulfield winners", 8/10) is hardly something to skite about. Force-feeding ducks and geese in cages until their livers swell to 10times their normal size is cruel and inhumane. Only half the European Union countries now produce it, and Britain, Germany, Israel, Norway and California have banned force feeding.
Jan Kendall, Hawthorn
AND ANOTHER THING
Banks are only sorry they've been caught out. Until issues becomes public, nothing is done.
Marie Nash, Balwyn
Trump
Clinton has her problems but she's starting to look like Mother Theresa.
Brian Mckinlay, Greensborough
Another faulty microphone, Donald?
Michael Peterson, McCrae
All id, little ego and no superego.
Les Aisen, Elsternwick
Expect a resounding "you're not hired" next month.
Walter Valles, Clayton South
Is Trump a closet democrat?
Andrew Remington, Travancore
Thank goodness Trump has foot in mouth disease. We've been saved.
Margaret Ann Skeen, Point Lonsdale
Is Donald's behaviour the cumulative effect of tens of thousands of blunt refusals?
Nina Wellington-Iser, Hawthorn East
Trump and the Philippines' Duterte: separated at birth?
Brad Fahrney, Clifton Hill
Politics
Tony Abbott must not know what "luminary" means. Even he couldn't be that delusional.
Philip Smith, Glen Waverley
George Brandis should have gone on the same day as Ford.
Michael Hipkins, Richmond
First Gillian Triggs, now Justin Gleeson SC. What happened to "frank and fearless advice"?
Peter Bennett, Clifton Hill
James Patterson, the government "owns" nothing but the expectations of the electorate. Blue Poles isn't part of that inventory.
Gary Sayer, Warrnambool
Florida is expected to have blackouts. There must be too much renewable energy in the system.
Trevor Plumridge, Glen Iris