This deal to swap refugees with the United States is rightly front page news (The Age, 14/11). However, I am puzzled that there is no mention of the number of people we are committed to taking from the Costa Rica processing centre. Also, which countries do they come from and how long have they been in detention? The government seems to be selling this deal to us as a good thing, but if we are going to accept a similar number (or more) of people as the price of getting rid of those held by us, then what is the point? Why doesn't the US just take the people from the Costa Rica processing centre and we take the people from Nauru and Manus Island?
Brian Johns, Point Cook
Illustration: Ron Tandberg
What of the families and onshore detainees?
The removal of detainees from offshore detention is a welcome start but two questions need to be answered: what happens to family members of detainees who are living in Australia and how will the government now respond to the hundreds of onshore detainees who are also in limbo? The psychological impact on them when they hear of the move to the US will surely be one of devastation and increased uncertainty. We have neglected them by focusing urgently on the offshore centres.
Rosemary Wearing, Richmond
A small step forward, but the shame remains
The "deal" with the US and other countries (possibly Canada, Malaysia, the Philippines and New Zealand) to take refugees from Nauru and Manus is welcomed – just. These people are still being treated with contempt as they are shuffled around the world with minimal concern for their welfare, wellbeing and choice. Policies advocated by the government and opposition are still abhorrent, and there is no indication that ongoing incarceration for new arrivals will be anything other than more of the same. We should still be ashamed of our disgraceful treatment of refugees and our continual breaches of the UN's refugee conventions.
Denise Stevens, Healesville
Spend money now to save money long term
In order to expedite and facilitate resettlement of offshore detainees to the US, I suggest a substantial one-off payment be made to each person (at least $100,000) and a lump sum payment be made to the US government. This may sound overly generous and unnecessary but I believe it would save money in the long term. It currently costs us an eye-watering $500,000 to keep each refugee in detention each year, so completing the deal in a few months would mostly cover this cost. It is also essential that the companies that run the detention centres are not involved in the deal. Otherwise, they will no doubt try to slow or stop it to prevent their rivers of gold from drying up.
Mark Freeman, Macleod
Our asylum seekers, our responsibility
Will Donald Trump honour Australia's deal with United States? It is unlikely. Will the refugees be given the assistance they undoubtedly need? That is highly unlikely. The stance of the Australian government is supposed to be one of strength. It actually indicates great fear and weakness. This is a global crisis and Australia baulks at receiving a couple of thousand of people who legally sought refuge here. These refugees are our responsibility.
Gael Barrett, North Balwyn
Punish those who have punished refugees
Whatever the ultimate fate of the refugees on Nauru and Manus Island, those responsible for the atrocities committed against them must eventually be brought to justice.
Bruce King, Malvern East
Well deserved honour
How refreshing to learn that someone of the calibre of Neale Daniher has been named the 2016 Melburnian of the Year for his untiring work raising funds to combat motor neurone disease (The Age, 14/11). In a world that focuses on "the globalisation of superficiality", this is truly newsworthy. Congratulations, Neale.
Helen Buckley, Richmond
Slow down, take care
Peter Barrett (Comment, 10/11) omitted two major driving sins: tailgating and ignoring speed limits. I recently moved to the Dandenong Ranges where the public perception about life up here is that it is slower and more peaceful. The natural environment is stunning and there are many spots to enjoy peace and quiet. But the roads are another story. Reckless drivers compromise the safety of other road users, especially on the curvy roads where exceeding the speed limit can send offenders over double lines into oncoming traffic. Please slow down, keep two car lengths distance and show more care for other road users.
Anna Gdanski, Monbulk
The kids are watching
Peter Barrett's comment on Vietnamese drivers was interesting. I could not help comparing my experience when I spent seven weeks in Sydney, driving for my family. The drivers were considerate, lacked road rage and – when your indicator showed – immediately let you in. I heard only one horn and it was justifiably directed at me. I came to the conclusion that their children, whilst passengers in the back seats, learnt how to be polite on the road. Melbourne drivers, it seems, are a lost cause as we pass our anger and aggressiveness onto our children.
Bonita Dowell, Glen Iris
Clinton deplorables?
Aubrey Perry (Comment, 14/11) should stop sobbing into her pillow and apply some objectivity. She is feeling how she probably would have liked Trump supporters to have felt – cowed, devastated and made to realise they were deplorable, angry white men who deserved to be sneered at. Apparently their unforgivable sin is that they hold a different view to the privileged guardians of social mores who are all for liberty, fraternity and sorority as long as it is on their terms. Now the anti-Trump protesters are behaving as they expected the deplorables to act in the event of a Clinton victory.
Guido Ghensi, Thornbury
The good Americans
I feel keenly for Aubrey Perry. She notes that, for Americans, patriotism has its positive side: an honest pride in their country which is imbued from childhood. The Americans whom I count as friends are as conflicted as Perry.
Yes, many of those who voted for Trump are also hurting and their concerns about jobs and incomes must be addressed. But spare a thought for the good, kind, public-spirited Americans who voted for Clinton and the minor candidates. Many were desperate for an alternative to the prospect of a Trump presidency. I wish Aubrey Perry and her family well in Australia.
Jane Nicholls, Brunswick East
A familiar presence
One reason for Donald Trump's success, which seems to have been ignored by many commentators, is that his reality TV show, The Apprentice, which started way back in 2004, has endeared him to millions of voters. His persona is depicted as powerful, decisive, flush with the trappings of success and yet avuncular. In much the same way that Kevin Rudd arrived on the public radar courtesy of the Channel 7 program, Sunrise, many voters presumably found Trump to be a comfortingly familiar presence, regardless of his tendency to shoot from the lip.
Rosemary Nixon, Ivanhoe East
Relax, he won't last
The idea that Donald Trump has any intention of helping the poor, uneducated and alienated sectors that voted for him is totally fanciful. This is a man full of slogans but bereft of morals, who somehow became the boss of the biggest "show" in the Western world. I predict that once Trump realises the effort and commitment needed is too much for him, the situation will deteriorate and he will either resign or be told: "You're fired".
Robert Grant, Cobram
He's not my president
I am an American abroad in Australia, some 40 years now, and am in the midst of angst and despair about how we managed to elect a president who rode on the coat-tails of hatred to win this election. However, I believe there may be a silver lining in the storm clouds ahead.
Putting aside Donald Trump's misogyny, bigotry, racism, tax evasion, failed business practices, and his anti-science, anti-intellectual and anti-civility tendencies, he has, on the other hand, unleashed the forces of opposition and hope which will rally against revulsion, manipulation and fear.
These forces will remind us again and again, "this is not my president". In the words of Leonard Cohen, "If you are the dealer, I want out of the game".
Dan Wollmering, Pascoe Vale South
Eerily prophetic
On Sunday morning, I flooded the airwaves with the album, The Essential Leonard Cohen. It was great listening. The track The Future welled up and, as I listened to the words, I thought how well they encapsulated what so many of us, across the globe, are feelinh regarding Donald Trump's presidency – "Get ready for the future, it is murder. Nothing you can measure any more".
Did Leonard choose the right day to leave last week because "the order of the soul" had been overturned and he felt "love is the only engine of survival"?
Strangely, the track to follow The Future is Democracy and then Waiting for the Miracle. So much can be read into Leonard's prophetic lyrics.
Anna Sewards, Mitcham
Pollsters so wrong
Polling schmolling. "Trumpling" by our so-called expert pollsters has shown that these highly paid crystal ball gazers are less than useless. Next election, why not wait for the result and donate the salaries of these navel gazers to charity?
Ken Leech, Rosebud
The only alternative
The fact that Trump is our best hope that the Trans-Pacific Partnership will not be ratified (The Age, 14/11) goes some way to explaining his win. In Australia, both major parties slavishly support the TPP, although they cannot explain how it might benefit us. As far I can tell, it will be a disaster. The accepted economic wisdoms have failed us notably. That is why, for many people, an apparent buffoon was the only alternative as president.
Lesley Dalziel, Seymour
Jobs aplenty at ABC
The poor old ABC, the only source of reliable information and quality viewing on radio and television, is giving us repeat after repeat because it has been deprived of funding by blinkered, paranoid governments sprouting "jobs and growth". Here is a ready made source of vacant positions created by shortsighted governments.
Derek Higgins, Yandoit
Facts, not mistruths
I valued the article by Greg Barns and Anna Talbot (Comment, 14/1) about Malcolm Turnbull's misleading attack on the Human Rights Commission, and the often unsubtle attack on people who exercise their rights under the Racial Discrimination Act. It takes courage to stand up for your rights, no matter how small the matter seems to someone else. The cumulative effect of each attack, without these being challenged, can be seen in our ongoing understanding and treatment of Australia's first people and newest people – those seeking asylum. Good law reform is based on facts and evidence, not mistruths and prejudice.
Chrisie Warren, Fairfield
Failure to inform
Greg Barns and Anna Talbot did not mention that in the Queensland University of Technology case, both it and the Australian Human Rights Commission failed to notify the students involved of the complaint against them for 14months, finally informing them three business days before conciliation. Commission president Gillian Triggs stated on ABC television that the complaint had been fairly investigated, yet no one had spoken to the young men. They were punished despite a Federal Circuit Court judge finding they had no case to answer.
Michael Madden, Chum Creek
Such sweet cricket
I am enjoying the way South Africa is playing almost as much as watching the arrogant Australian team and public wring their collective hands in disbelief.
Eldert De Graaf, Wheelers Hill
Learn from the master
The weather was our best player. It may not have taken a wicket or scored a run, but it stayed more than a day at the crease and no runs were taken off its bowling torrent. Perhaps it should run training sessions for our players.
Russell Costello, Mont Albert North
AND ANOTHER THING
US election
Shouldn't Melania be the Third Lady?
Mike Norris, Hampton
As simple as ABC: Anyone But Clinton(s).
Tim Nolan, Brighton
I'll build a wall. Perhaps a fence will do. Or a retired security guard sitting on a plastic chair.
Phil Harty, Thornbury
Hockey's job has got harder. Let's hope he's up to the challenge.
Nora Sparrow, Canterbury
Clinton blames the FBI for her loss. Hasn't she read Disraeli who said, "there's no gambling like politics"?
Tony McNally, Melbourne
It appears many Americans were victims of Stockholm Syndrome.
Philip Bunn, Beechworth
We've had the Arab Spring. Could this be the Western Fall?
Warwick Sprawson, Brunswick
The Lefties are upset, poor darlings.
Rod Matthews, Fairfield
All the best to America's battlers but you can't live on snake oil.
Bill Cleveland, Kew
Refugees
So, if I got on a leaky boat bound for Australia, I could live in the US? It sounds like a good deal.
Graham Smith, Cheltenham
The United States' gain, our loss.
Cath Dyson, Mount Eliza
Frankly, dear refugees, Shorten and Turnbull don't give a damn.
Bruce Dudon, Woodend
Cricket
Get down on your hands and knees and pray, Steve Smith (Sport, 14/11). You've tried everything else.
Gordon Bick, Cowes
Trump for CEO of Cricket Australia. (He couldn't be any worse than Sutherland.)
Linda Lewis, Watsonia
Dear Senate, please pass the ABCC (Australian Batting Collapse Commission) bill.
George Reed, Wheelers Hill