Cory Bernardi says he is going "all in" to bring about the type of political change that American voters wanted when they elected Donald Trump to the White House (The Age, 12/12). Like so many others, he claims Trump's victory as proof of a seismic shift in public thinking. This commentary on the election has become accepted wisdom and is trotted out to support all manner of social theories. But it does not take into account the fact that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, the small voter turnout and the unpopularity of both candidates.
Trump was the Republican candidate, the party that was in the box seat to win the election because the normal course of history in the United States is for a two-term president to be replaced by one from the other major party. Pauline Hanson is not "Trump-like" as there are no independents or small parties in the American system. George Christensen leading the Coalition would be analogous to Trump leading the Republicans.
But Bill Shorten's unpopularity here does not match the hatred for Clinton in the US, and we have a better electoral system. The closest analogy to Trump leading the Republicans in Australia was Mark Latham being allowed to lead the ALP – and he garnered a similar percentage of the vote as Trump, despite his similar, obvious unsuitability for leadership.
Michael Langford, Ivanhoe
What qualities do we want in a politician?
Cory Bernardi would do well to remember that fewer than one in four eligible voters favoured Trump, and Clinton did little better. And of the former, many may have been influenced by Russian espionage efforts. More alarmingly, about one in two eligible voters had so little faith in, or engagement with, the political system that they did not vote. Does the good Senator applaud this circumstance? Does he plan minority rule and would he welcome foreign interference in Australian politics to advance his agenda? Has he already sought this from the Trump camp? Are these qualities one should seek in a politician?
Vincent O'Donnell, Ascot Vale
Defining who was the real "herd"
Tom Switzer's article (Comment, 12/12) is the latest in a long line of "ever so wise after the event" pieces excoriating the "hopelessly out of touch" herd and "intellectuals" (whoever they may be) for being wrong about the American election and Brexit. Donald Trump may be just the man to assuage the misery of the disenfranchised in the United States; then again he might not. In truth, it could be some time before we learn who was the real herd: the "sophisticates" (love it) who, very understandably, thought/hoped that Trump would lose or those "ordinary folks" who are fed up with "climate alarmism and political correctness" and placed their faith in Trump.
Michael Read, Ashburton
Trump won, so it couldn't have been rigged
In his otherwise insightful column, Tom Switzer failed to mention that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by nearly 3 million ballots, was blindsided by a last minute FBI email "probe" (later redacted) and her campaign was sabotaged by the Russians and our favourite son, Julian Assange. If it had gone the other way, Trump would surely have labelled it a "rigged" election.
Michael Petit, Brunswick
The strange friendship of Putin and Trump
If this were the 1950s, Donald Trump might have been jailed, or worse, because of his links with Vladimir Putin and Russia. Bring back Joseph McCarthy.
David Champion, Ivanhoe
THE FORUM
Justice or revenge?
It was heartening to read Janna Thompson's intelligent assessment of the rights and wrongs in holding someone in prison for life (Comment, 12/12). Yes, Craig Minogue planted a bomb that killed a police officer. The desire to keep him locked up is an attempt to send the message: "A copper's life is worth more than an ordinary citizen's life".
Yes, the police take risks that we ordinary people do not face. Yes, their job is to protect citizens. But surely in taking on this role, they make a thoughtful judgment about risks to themselves and even their families. It seems what is being demanded is revenge. Is this what justice is about? How can we justify keeping Minogue locked up while others who have also committed serious crimes are allowed to complete their sentences and then move into the community?
Wendy Robertson, Preston
First-home bargain
Central Cranbourne: houses for $300,000 to $$400,000; big backyards; wide streets; a 10-minute walk to three primary schools; a 20-minute bike ride to two secondary schools; a 10-minute walk or a two minute drive through quiet streets to the main shopping centre; good train service to the CBD; and excellent sporting, medical and retail facilities. It is probably not fashionable enough for the trendies, but surely it is a good starting point for first-home buyers (Comment, 12/12)?
Judy Symons, Cranbourne
Support the victims
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann's complaint that domestic violence leave would be another cost to business is dumb economics as well as heartless. Victims may have interrupted work histories and require a great deal of social, medical and other support. If these women are allowed to take leave to support their escape from violent men and re-establish their lives, long-term it will enable them to have a higher participation in the workforce and contribute more, economically, to Australia.
Max Sargent, Thornbury
Putting safety first
The shooters lobby is like a petulant toddler, stamping its foot because it cannot have a new "toy" – the seven-shot Adler shotgun, which will get a tough category D classification (Saturday Age, 10/12). Surely there are enough guns already to kill scores of animals (and people) many times over. I cannot see the joy in killing as a "sport" but I acknowledge that feral animals may need to be kept in check. However, we have guns enough now for this purpose. In this entitled, "I should be able to do anything I like" society, could we think of the greater good and safety of the community?
Janice Florence, Preston
Irrationality rules
Victorian senator Bridget McKenzie says hundreds of thousands of gun owners will feel let down by the reclassification of the Adler shotgun (an efficient killing machine), adding: "There's no evidence to suggest that this is a rational decision based in evidence, in common sense." It sounds very similar to my feelings about the government's flip-flopping approach to climate change action, energy transition and our economy.
William Chandler, Surrey Hills
Caring researchers
Jan Kendall (Letters, 12/12), animals are not allowed to suffer during experiments due to stringent conditions applied by ethics committees and the researchers' moral and caring attributes. Congratulations, University of Melbourne Laureate Professor Eric Reynolds ("World-first vaccine for gum disease brings a welcome smile to researchers", 9/12). Let us hope that we all smile, in the future, from the results of your work.
Judith McNaughtan, Mont Albert
Yet another road link
The Andrews government says it will seek voter approval for the North East Link road at the 2018 election and the project is said to have Coalition support at state and federal levels (The Age, 12/12). What kind of choice is that? Residents who appreciate the importance of the Yarra parklands have successfully seen off several North East Link proposals over the past five decades. The conservation-minded premier Rupert Hamer saw off two of them. I hope we are not heading for an expensive repeat of the East-West Link fiasco.
Geoff Mosley, Hurstbridge
And even more cars
Nothing will solve the congestion on our roads unless we control our population growth. By the time we build these so-called ring roads, the number of cars on our roads will have increased by many thousands. When these projects are completed, we will be back to square one.
Carol Wilson, Wantirna South
Death of a messiah
Last Christmas, most of us were still euphoric about Malcolm Turnbull's second coming. Twelve months on: the centre has not held; the right is full of passionate intensity; some rough beasts, their hour come round, have slouched into Canberra; and our messiah lacks conviction. Can we cling to any hope that some revelation is at hand for our polity? (With acknowledgement to a prescient W.B. Yeats).
Frank Hurley, Alfredton
The dark day of Rudd
Billy McMahon is often used as a comparison when people reflect upon the relative incompetence of our leaders. He led the nation during a period of comparative prosperity but is not held in high regard because of his personal demeanour. He was a figure of fun. When apportioning incompetence, no one compares with Kevin Rudd and the legacy he left. He will be written into history as the architect of a dark period for our nation.
Francis Smith, Caulfield North
Choosing our deaths
My 90-year old mother died recently, in a wonderful public hospital surrounded by members of her family and caring staff. She shared Brother Matt Ryan's religious beliefs in that "pain and suffering are part of the human condition" (Letters, 10/12).
My mother refused nourishment and medical interventions and died as a withered remnant, in discomfort (if not pain) and distress. She got her wish. I did not deny her the type of death that she required and the medical staff were unable to intervene. For her, this was a perfect departure from her life. However, I do not share my mother's conviction of "pain and suffering". I want my life to end peacefully and with as much medical intervention as will provide dignity and relief to my situation.
Mark Bennett, Newtown
Thanks, great viewing
Congratulations to Channel 10 (and Cricket Australia) for embracing and promoting women's sport in the mainstream media. I enjoyed watching this weekend's matches and look forward to seeing many more. The level of skill and dedication of these sportswomen is to be admired.
Andrew Connell, Newtown
Farewell, Jobson
I agree, Nicholas Melaluka (Letters, 12/12), Jobson Growth has departed these shores, possibly on a refugee boat and with his mate Ivor Plann. I hope they land on friendly shores.
Ian Stapleton, Mount Martha
Our trees and forests
When Japan invaded Australia and the Pacific in the 1940s, thousands died fighting in our defence. But today we are giving our natural resources to Japan for next to nothing. The Australian Paper Mill has been sold to Nippon Paper, which receives millions of tonnes of wood chips for just a few dollars per tonne. Almost all the timber taken from Victoria's beautiful mountain ash forests is wood-chipped for Nippon, while Japan conserves its own native forests. We may not be able to stop Japan taking whales from Australian waters, but why must we give them our trees and forests? The government is allowing the destruction of our Taunarrung ancestral country for the sake of financial greed, and is betraying those brave men and women who gave their lives to defend Australia.
Uncle Roy Patterson, Aboriginal elder, Taunarrung People, Taggerty
Making sense of NBN
Prior to retiring, I spent 30-plus years working in IT and I learned the following. If you are building line-of-sight network infrastructure, you put the towers on high ground. Where I live, the NBN put the tower at the bottom of heavily wooded hills. This ensures that many Dereel residents are unable to connect to fixed wireless which is line-of-sight. They will have to use satellite which is far more expensive and less able. They can also forget about unlimited broadband. In addition, the NBN has decided that even if you can get line-of-sight, it has to be within 14kilometres. Does anyone there understand the concept?
Arno Besse, Dereel
The forgotten traders
Daniel Andrews, thank you for our problems in Bayswater. The removal of the level crossing has left us traders stressed and unable to sleep due to the loss of business. We do not know how we can pay our bills and some of us are in debt or, in my case, close to it. This has been going on for months and your government does not give a damn. There are no reports about our predicament, just praise for the removal of level crossings.
Carol Slink, Bayswater
AND ANOTHER THING
Climate change
Not content with rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic, we're gleefully shovelling coal into the boilers.
Lee Kennedy, Box Hill
Alan Finkel joins Gleeson and Triggs as government enemies for truth telling. Stand proud, Dr Finkel.
John Higgins, Hawthorn
Watch out, Dr Finkel. The wolves who bayed at Triggs' skirts will be after your coat tails.
Rob Park, Surrey Hills
Waleed Aly says Rudd "imploded and shelved" his ETS (9/12). It was the Greens who said they would block the legislation in the Senate.
John Lewis, Port Melbourne
Politics
Turnbull is a perfect candidate to receive the order of the white feather.
Louis Roller, Fitzroy North
Michaelia, don't do a Josh. Be a good girl and say what nice Mr Cormann wants us to hear.
Peter Neilson, Heathcote
Bring back Abbott. At least he believed in what he was talking about.
Mick O'Mara, Winchelsea
Premier, reverse your planning minister's decision on high-rise developments. Or are you as craven as Turnbull?
John Walsh, Watsonia
Mr Turnbull, you often state you have a mandate to govern. When are you going to start?
Anne Fitzpatrick, Abbotsford
Trump supports Putin but distrusts the CIA. A cold war gone mad.
David Seal, Balwyn North
Here's a retired teacher who's happy to wear a "close the camps" T-shirt.
Carolyn Reynolds, Lake Boga
Turnbull wears the pants in his family and his partner (the conservatives) tell him which ones.
Rod West, Ocean Grove
An inquiry into diplomats' entitlements? What about an inquiry into MPs' entitlements?
Geoff Schmidt, Fitzroy North