No matter who wins the US presidential election this time, it is arguable that world politics has changed forever. The US has held a special position in the world; Americans tout themselves as leaders of the free world. Because of the nature of this presidential election process, America has lost its credibility in the world as a nation that has the right or the capacity to adjudicate on other nations. Regardless of who wins, the world's nations are not going to look to the US for direction or leadership again.
Carolyn Noel, Warrandyte
A case study of misogyny in action
Perhaps there is a silver lining after all. Donald Trump has provided a case study of how misogyny works and how it is minimised and excused by men and some women. The principal rationale from the pro-Trump cheer squad is that such comments were said a long time ago and were just "locker room" banter, so what's the problem, folks? Therein is the crux of the misogyny matter, as Jenna Price teases out ("It's men, not women, who need to be chaperoned", Comment, 10/10). Men are loath to intervene when other men engage in sexist and derogatory behaviour towards women. Price's proposition might seem outlandish but it isn't when considered in the context of the two major findings from the former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick into rampant sex abuse in the defence force and the federal police. When men are in groups, their behaviour becomes primal and predatory under weak male organisational leadership. Cultural and organisational change begins at the top, without which nothing will ever fundamentally change.
Jelena Rosic, Mornington
Destroying schoolgirls' dreams
Watching the presidential debate has not only filled me with despair, it has incited within me, a schoolgirl, a deep anger that a man with such a questionable conscience can run for one of the most respected roles in the modern world. His view on women is the kind of opinion that would push us back into a Dark Ages mindset, giving voice to the most hateful views in the world. I find it appalling that the things he says are regarded by his supporters as acceptable, when expressing such views at school would result in expulsion. What Mr Trump doesn't seem to realise is that the US presidential race is not just about America – the entire world is affected. This issue is so much bigger than just hurting the feelings of a few women – it destroys the dreams of an entire cohort of girls who could become the next generation of leaders. As Hillary Clinton said, "the history of women has been a history of silence", so let's not allow this silence to continue by electing a man who wishes for women to be seen and not heard.
Iona Bulford, Newtown
Sinister force, but Clinton wins gorilla war
The repellent Nigel Farage, former leader of UKIP, thinks Donald Trump prowled the debate studio "like a big silverback gorilla" and "dominated Hillary Clinton". Well, I guess someone who looks like a chimpanzee is bound to admire a gorilla. (Do gorillas sniff a lot?) But to me, Trump's prowling seemed sinister and crude, and the wonderful thing was that Hillary Clinton took absolutely no notice of it.
Anthea Hyslop, Eltham
The great American nightmare
If Americans are being scared by creepy clowns, then they should be absolutely terrified of Donald Trump. That a divisive, misogynistic, morally bankrupt, tax-avoiding billionaire with such bigoted, racist views could possibly become their next president is the great American nightmare.
Harry Kowalski, Ivanhoe
THE FORUM
Do your job, PM ...
When exploiting their oil and gas reserves the prudent Norwegians make sure the public gets a fair share of the profits. These now sit in the largest sovereign wealth fund worth some $US885 billion. Meanwhile, in Australia we have a large public debt and our gas is virtually given away ("Almost all gasfields pay no rent tax", 11/10).
It is scandalous that Australia is fattening the profits of multinational corporations and exacerbating climate change while this non-renewable resource contributes a mere pittance to the public purse. To make matters worse the federal government feigns concern about the need for climate action and the lack of tax being paid, while continuing to prop up the structurally declining fossil fuel industry through billions in subsidies. Is Malcolm Turnbull governing for the fossil fuel industry or for Australians?
Andrew Laird, East Malvern
... and govern for us
Current political discourse is dominated by debate around same-sex marriage, the appalling treatment of asylum seekers and what caused the power outage in SA. Oh, and the US election and the Doggies win. I suggest we now shift our gaze and focus on the train wreck that was the Howard government's oversight of the mining boom. This neo-liberal, free-market government caved in to lobbying by multinationals and amended the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax Assessment Regulation in 2004, resulting in an uplift of 150 per cent on PRRT deductions for exploration expenditure, condemning future governments to forgo tens of billions of revenue over the next few decades.
We and future generations will therefore go without schools, public transport, proper health care and housing for the homeless and instead underwrite hugely profitable multinational companies like Chevron. When will politicians put the interests of Australians first and unwind this egregious amendment?
Craig Horne, Fitzroy North
MPs need to show guts
The plebiscite issue highlights how toxic the party system has become. A "free vote" – permission to vote according to your conscience or your constituents' wishes – is now a rare privilege granted only when it suits factional chiefs. Party discipline is necessary for budgetary, defence and such decisions – the only issues to claim a "mandate", but it is inexcusable to prevent free votes on social matters. Moderate members need to have the guts to defy the ban. Their job is to represent their electorates, not factional chiefs. On same-sex marriage, what do MPs have to lose by standing up for what they and their constituents believe in? If even one MP is thrown out, the party will lose its majority.
Bill Godfrey, Mt Stuart, Tas
Demonisation rolls on
Eric Abetz decries the lack of media celebration of people who "come out" and switch from a homosexual to a heterosexual lifestyle ("Honour those who go from gay to straight: Abetz", 11/10). First, has such a switch ever occurred outside Senator Abetz' imagination? Second, the reference to a "lifestyle" implies that homosexuals choose to be gay, and justifies the ongoing demonising of gays by the homophobes in the religious right of the Liberal Party.
Chris Andrews, Kangaroo Ground
Sarcastic tone insulting
Three of Amanda Vanstone's past four Comment articles have lambasted Bill Shorten and the Labor party, to the exclusion of other issues that are far more worthy of debate. Her predictable bias, combined with her increasingly insulting and sarcastic tone, is producing decreasingly valuable comment.
Greg Keogh, Cheltenham
Set record straight
I simply ask that Ms Vanstone makes factual statements. She is wrong to claim the Gillard government did nothing on same-sex marriage. Under Julia Gillard, Labor changed from opposing it to allowing a free conscience vote. If the Liberal/National parties had done the same thing in 2011, same-sex marriage would now be law.
Daryl Dellora, Kensington
Cavalier attitude
It is impossible to judge who has the more cavalier attitude towards parliament and corporate governance – the ministers who arranged the bankers' "No regulation without big four dispensation" tea party in Canberra, or the banks that attended.
James Gaffey, Ivanhoe East
Stance is at odds
The Age is to be congratulated for continuing to highlight the inhumane treatment of asylum seekers; promoting the undeniable science of anthropogenic climate change; questioning the overgenerous allocation of taxpayers' money to private schools; and calling for a royal commission into banks. Can you just remind me why you recommended voting for the Coalition in the state and federal elections?
Steve Halliwell, Coburg
Get off your high horse
To all energy/environment ministers and others who are blissfully ignorant of life in regional and rural Australia. On behalf of the silent majority, we are getting fed up with hearing the same old rhetoric about a utopia where everyone is gainfully employed in a service industry that doesn't leave footprints, eats animals or expels methane or carbon dioxide. So get off your high horse, get out of fantasy land and let us get on with keeping average Australians employed, fed, safe and warm.
Chris Johnston, Traralgon
Demise of decency
Sadly, the death knell has sounded for greyhounds, and that rare breed: a politician of principle. NSW Premier Mike Baird spoke from the heart when he expressed revulsion for the cruelty that has been exposed. He concluded the greyhound industry was beyond cure: it must end. Another NSW trainer was charged with live baiting this week. But despite polls showing two-thirds of voters supported the ban, shock-jock radio and the Murdoch press waged war against it. As with the carbon price, the mining tax, and modest efforts towards gambling reform, Mike Baird's plea for a more responsible and humane world appears to have met its demise at the hands of media campaigns. Meanwhile, News Corp is beefing up its interests in the wagering industry.
Joan Reilly, Surrey Hills
On tip of aged care crisis
My heartfelt sympathy to the family of Nita Kearsley (The Age, 7/10) who have suffered at the hands of our aged care system. I have written many letters over the past months to politicians regarding my concerns and have gone public about just one incident (there are many more) that saw my 89-year-old mother sustain second-degree burns in a residential facility in June.
Those of us who have relatives in residential care must speak up about the injustices that are happening to our frail aged and those living with dementia. Workers with minimal training are caring for people who have complex age-related illnesses that require specialist nursing skills. The two agencies charged with overseeing the aged care sector – the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner and the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency – are failing to protect our most vulnerable Australians. We must act now to avoid suffering and premature deaths.
Glenda Hipwell, Creswick
Privileged are blind
Recent discussions excusing the behaviour of the Budgie Nine show that those with privilege are blind. The benefits bestowed on white, private school-educated, professional, heterosexual men are often simply taken for granted. They form networks by surrounding themselves with others who share their world view. They huddle together at exclusive clubs where their socialising sustains their network. At social functions, they often reminisce about their school and university days – a cricket game or rowing regatta.
When others challenge their behaviour, they fight back, saying feminism has "gone too far". I even heard one man complain recently how unfair it was that there is a women's hospital and a children's hospital, but not a men's hospital. The shocking thing is he was serious. As F. Scott Fitzgerald reminded us, "unless you were born rich, it is very difficult to understand".
Sarah Russell, Northcote
Wasteful nation
Australia is a wasteful, disposable nation ("'Pay as you throw' scheme proposed", 10/10). Products are engulfed in layers of packaging; even if recyclable, energy is required for processing. If not recyclable, packaging goes to landfill where it only slowly breaks down. Food waste is even more pernicious. It emits methane, a highly toxic greenhouse gas. In many areas, food waste comprises 50 per cent of household collections. Inner-city councils in particular find it difficult to deal with this waste in an environmentally acceptable way because of the lack of space to develop composting facilities, and budget constraints. The federal and state governments must develop comprehensive waste management programs. My household never fills either waste or recycling bins above halfway; perhaps smaller bins along with community recycling and education programs might be a better option than charging for waste.
Kerry Echberg, Princes Hill
No end to generosity
Given others' willingness to add their rubbish to my hard-waste collection, imagine their generosity when pay/weighve comes in.
Dale Crisp, Brighton
AND ANOTHER THING...
The nation
In one fell swoop, Labor saves us $200 million and untold personal damage to the LGBTI community and their families.
Steve Melzer, Hughesdale
If the PM is so sure the non-binding plebiscite would work, he could fast forward to a vote on the floor of the House.
Rob Ward, Lake Tyers Beach
I look forward to Turnbull announcing a policy he actually believes in.
Robert Forbes, Camberwell
Malcolm, you're using a Redhead to torch the Victorian government. Are you ready for high fire danger in Canberra?
Tim Durbridge, Brunswick
Qatar is to get $26 billion in gas revenue; Australia $0.8 billion. Is everyone in parliament asleep or on laughing gas?
John Paterson, Maryknoll
Let's get Qatar to manage the LNG resources of Australia.
Les Anderson, Woodend
First SA and now Victoria: both disconnected from the grid by Tony Abbott's destructive "invisible gas".
Anthony Barnes, Forest Hill
Australia has long been the only OECD country I know that has a lavish bipartisan program designed to cripple public schooling.
Stephen Saunders, O'Connor, ACT
US election
"President" Donald Trump with his hand on the button: the unspeakable in charge of the unthinkable.
Cath Dyson, Mount Eliza
I hope Hillary washed her hand.
Stephen Dinham, Surrey Hills
Trump: a "straight" white man who is a demagogue.
Alex Njoo, St Kilda
So people being "smart" enough to not pay taxes is going to "make America great again".
Gerry Lonergan, Reservoir
Last word
When will those who damage others stop the formulaic apologising for "any" harm done and apologise instead for the harm they know they've done?
Els van den Berghe, Yarrawonga