David Mackay writes that envy of Trump's power and "can do" attitude underlies the antipathy toward him (Letters, 4/2). Envy as a phenomenon is complex but is essentially about the desire to destroy whatever quality another might have because oneself feels its lack – of success, charisma, intellect, wealth or whatever. Trump has all these things, much of it achieved despite multiple bankruptcies. What he is demonstrating is his sense of entitlement in relation to other people: to bully, to fabricate and manipulate truth, and a blithe ignorance of boundaries – amply demonstrated by his boasts about women. His response to the judicial system appears to be another. Perhaps Trump envies power in others whether they be women, the judiciary, or people with minds. Notwithstanding all that, Trump and his team are discovering he is not king of the world. He may also be learning that his power, as defined by the US Constitution, cannot entirely be interpreted by him nor are people going to be bossed around simply because he is the president. The tragedy is that for those who believed in Trump, who hoped to find a voice and a place in America again, they may find themselves in a worse position than they were before the election.
Christine Vickers, Lockwood
Lord of all he surveys
President Trump's reference to "so called" judges indicates his supreme indifference and hostility towards the judiciary and the ability of courts to challenge what he considers to be his unlimited powers. The President is a man who views the country as his personal domain, with power delegated at whim to family members and personally selected and trusted aides. Trump seems not to recognise the importance of the principle of the separation of powers, so carefully and proudly set out in Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the US Constitution, a document he and his supporters claim to revere. The groans of the founding fathers in their graves must by now be quite overwhelming. Joh Bjelke Petersen never "got it" either – and look what (eventually) happened to him.
Margaret Harrison, Clifton Hill
This is real life, not a movie
Just been watching London Has Fallen and realised why the White House has been calling our PM Trunbull/Trumbull. The US Vice President in this movie is called "Trumbull". Perhaps this makes the repeated gaffe slightly less offensive. However, the White House would do well to remember this is real life, not a movie.
Morlise Gillett, Baxter
Queen is equal to the task
There is no reason to worry about the Queen meeting Donald Trump. During her long reign, the poor woman has had to meet any number of sleazy, ignorant idiots and has done so with panache and will continue to do so. Someone will have to keep an eye on Phil, though, as he does not suffer fools gladly.
Instead of a dressy do at Buck House, the Donald should be tootled down to Windsor Castle for a lunch showcasing great British culinary masterpieces. There would be Brown Windsor Soup followed by Scotch eggs, pork pies and pickled onions. Then a degustation of such delicacies as jellied eels, haggis, tongue, black and white pudding, cockles and soggy chips, lambs fry and sides of overcooked Brussels sprouts. A selection of puddings, including Spotted Dick and of course Orange Fool with custard would round off the lunch. It would be all over in two hours and the president could be shunted off to London.
Her Majesty could then have a nice cup of tea, put her feet up and have a lovely nap. If Phil needs to vent some spleen he can pop on to the parapets and shoot a few pigeons for supper. What's not to like?
Judith Stone, Cowwarr
THE FORUM
Who's the sap?
When a small group of Melbourne businessmen bought the Heyfield timber mill, Australian Sustainable Hardwoods, from the collapsing Gunns, they knew the timber resource was limited ("Environment, jobs at risk in state forests", The Age, 6/2).
That had been clear for decades. They could have embarked on reducing capacity and created a truly sustainable industry, with secure, albeit fewer, jobs. Instead they chose to increase production and staffing levels.
Their business plan has always been to maximise the taxpayer-funded payout they would get after the last tree is gone. That's why they wanted an indemnified 20-year contract with the Napthine government, for a resource that wasn't there. Maybe that's why the contract wasn't signed.
Now the company is playing on their workers' understandable fear of losing their jobs to try to bully the Andrews government to sign off on the deal, guaranteeing them a multi-million dollar payout. It's time to call them out, Premier.
Steve Meacher, Toolangi
A legitimate use
Richard Willingham's article on the state's timber industry contrasts with a report on the previous two pages discussing a national survey that found a desire for more local manufacturing a "hot button" issue.
Forest harvesting is a legitimate use of state forest. Harvested areas must be regenerated. Roads are available for use by recreational vehicles and riders. These forests continue to protect a range of values while providing value-adding manufacturing jobs, ash furniture and timber flooring, all made locally.
There are extensive areas of mountain ash forest in Melbourne's closed catchments and national parks and reserves that are not available for harvesting. Close down manufacturing at Heyfield. No jobs in Gippsland. No increase in public land.
Roger Fyfe, Ivanhoe
A sustainable vision
The forestry industry is asking for some $40 million to bail out 250 jobs. Premier Andrews, I'll employ the workers if you give me $20 million to invest in my tourism business.
I have at least got a long-term vision that is definitely sustainable, and will provide jobs until retirement.
Deanne Eccles, Healesville
Rethink industry
Many of us have been forced to make the transition from industries that are no longer sustainable or indeed relevant, so why is the timber industry any different? This industry needs to have a rethink and retrain workers, rather than ask for a handout to retool.
Karena Goldfinch, St Andrews
Cory's gift to PM
It is wonderful news that Senator Bernardi is taking the "courageous" step of leaving his cosy sinecure in the Liberal Party to join the crowded rough and tumble field of fringe right wingers. What a pity he didn't have that courage last election. Oh well, Malcolm Turnbull needed something to cheer him up and boost his fortunes. What a gift.
Mark Freeman, Macleod
Waking up to Pauline
Pauline Hanson is doing us all a favour. By continuing to voice her admiration of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, she will no doubt ensure those Aussies who voted for her will have realised their folly by the next election.
Robyn Lyons, Northcote
Abbott the hypocrite
So pleased Tony Abbott has recognised the error of his ways and now holds electoral promises to be a sacred trust with the electorate. I suggest he be made prime minister immediately, as he will undoubtedly back track on all the policies he introduced that were contrary to his pre-election promises. What a hypocrite.
Tony Roberts, Pascoe Vale South
Clear the air
If political donations were totally transparent, as they should be, the only reason that would remain for political support of coal stations would be that gas prices have been driven so high. But that is due to the failure of the federal government to commit a portion of the gas supply as a domestic reserve, which has forced gas prices up to world parity as Ross Gittins points out (BusinessDay, 6/2). When are we going to come clean on all political donations? Seems like renewables are a clean source of energy in more ways than the obvious.
Robert Brown, Camberwell
Woolly thinking
It was good to see that Australian wool growers are "Riding high on the sheep's baaack" (The Saturday Age, 4/2) by selling fine wool for up to $12.49 a kilogram. But it is disappointing that most of it will be shipped to Italy, Japan or some other smart country, where it will be converted into clothing, such as jumpers, and sold back to us for at least $500 a kilogram – some 40 or more times the price for the raw wool. Why don't we convert more of the wool here?
These days with automated knitting machines, there should be little difference in the labour component. So what is stopping us? I am sure our clothing designers are up to the task.
Jeffrey Newman, Ivanhoe
Words' worth of work
I was at a meeting the other day and heard that a "job was to start". Actually, the bureaucrat said: "At this point in time the project is shovel ready so it will be rolled out moving forward." Perhaps my four words compared to his 18 words indicate why so many public works cost four or five times more than they should.
Barry Croke, Naringaningalook
Punt the body ads
It has been great watching the talented, skilled and strong women play fantastic football in the AFL women's league. Such an exciting game to watch with my daughters. However, I am disappointed with the saturation of weight-loss ads telling women how we look is important. It is demeaning. My girls are so excited to see girls play footy, and good footy at that, but the message is counteracted by body shaming. Makes my blood boil.
Sherryn Jones-Vadala, Airport West
A positive start
What a refreshingly positive experience the women's league was. Skilled, passionate players. Fresh, conversational interviews and commentary. No obvious over-corporatisation. No gambling ads. Long may it continue this way.
Catherine Ewart, Bentleigh East
All in their stride
If women can climb Mt Everest, sail solo around the world, play soccer, hockey, cricket, bridge, croquet ... and give birth with just a scream or two, why on earth all this fuss about women playing AFL football. Of course they can, it's a pushover.
Margaret Skeen, Point Lonsdale
No betting, please
What a pleasure it was to see no ads or promotions related to sports betting while watching the women's football on Friday night. Let's hope this will not change as the competition gets ever more popular.
Stephanie Cohen, Gormandale
Bad hair wordplay
I am sure The Age can do better than this. What a disappointing and lazy headline ("It's all about the hair and now for AFL Women's", 6/2). The players' hair, gender and physical attributes have no impact on their abilities as athletes, and do not need to be commented on.
Nicole Jones, Fairfield
Eddie's dilemma
I read with interest that Eddie McGuire was in Adelaide watching two men belt each other instead of supporting Collingwood's women's team in its inaugural match. Hopefully there won't be a boxing match on the same day as the Collingwood men's first game as that would pose a terrible dilemma for Eddie.
Anne Holmes, Port Melbourne
Confusion served
A well-known local restaurant advertises "Food, Wine, Art, Ethics". This last word has always puzzled me, but given recent events, I am now really confused ("Cafe Di Stasio forced to repay $35,000 after exploiting foreign staff", 1/2).
Tony Healy, Balwyn North
Stamp of disapproval
At the risk of a "me too" complaint (Letters, 6/2), I also despair at Australia Post's "couldn't care less" attitude, which Ahmed Fahour and his team has so effectively "improved".
For $29.85 I sent a tracked parcel to Belgium. The following day an email confirmed that it was on its way to France! It took five weeks to arrive. In December I paid $28.30 for a legal document to be sent by tracked post to Ireland. The following day I was advised by email it was on its way to China. Three weeks later it arrived in Ireland. A backup document sent by ordinary mail took a week less. My local post office, which tried hard to be helpful, asked me to lodge a complaint. Six weeks later I am still waiting for a reply. Australia Post promises big but delivers small. I thought I was buying peace of mind, but evidently not.
David Greenwood, Armadale
AND ANOTHER THING...
President Trump
Trump is toying with Turnbull, like a cat does with a mouse.
Kaye Jones, Nagambie
Trump America's only friend will soon be Putin's Russia. Who'd have believed that a few years ago.
Giuseppe Corda, Aspendale
"So-called judge" or "so-called president"?
Miranda Jones, Drummond
Surely no one is surprised by the actions of the so-called President?
Uschi Felix, South Melbourne
He is no Trump, he's an Open Misere.
Fiona Stewart-Murray, Mortlake
Maxwell Smart's worst fear has been realised with KAOS ruling the US.
Fred Gough, South Yarra
Did Nostradamus predict Trump's rise to the presidency?
Rosemary Lithgow, Carisbrook
Just looked at my business insurance policy. It had a "terrorism levy". Is this a case of be alert not alarmed?
Michael Carver, Kew
Does extreme vetting involve waterboarding?
Ian Cunliffe, Moonee Ponds
Allow a Trump Tower next to the Sydney Opera House. The Manus and Nauru camps would be emptied in a jiffy.
Clive Davies, Brighton
Turnbull
Malcolm, next time you ring Donald you'd better make it a collect call.
Stephen Bickell, Mt Evelyn
With the PM's advocacy of new coal-fired power stations, his possession by Tony Abbott's spirit is complete.
Patrick Kavanagh, Strangways
The PM should put his mouth where his money is and say something Abbott might not necessarily agree with.
Tim Thorne, Launceston, Tas
The nation
Why don't Cory Bernardi and George Christensen go the whole hog and join One Nation. That's where they belong.
Reg Murray, Glen Iris
Yes, Senator Abetz. Cut public service profligacy. But only where it really rips off Australians – politicians, their retinues and their rorts.
Mary-Lou Considine, St Kilda East