Normal business for the state’s big clubs
I first learned of the B-52 when it appeared in a Stanley Kubrick movie. Dr Strangelove OR: How I Stopped Worrying and Loved Bombs, was manufactured in 1964. Stratofortress first flew in her 1952 during the Cold War. Parking these 70-year-old antiques in Northern Australia as a defense doesn’t inspire confidence. Glen Johnson Leura
Tyndall Base, which is within range of Chinese missiles, should be seen as a prime target should tensions between China and the United States over Taiwan escalate into armed conflict. You should be targeted. More quickly, could China impose more damaging sanctions on trade? Will relations with its most important trading partners be devastated? Brian O’donnell balladoo
By stationing American B-52 bombers capable of carrying “nuclear explosive devices” in our country, again following the US-led expedition, we provoked China to become our enemy, but I Aren’t we painting China’s big fat target on the forehead of a peaceful country? Fred Janson, Rose Bay
While Australia’s acquiescence to the United States undermines decades of global efforts to reduce and eliminate nuclear weapons, it does little to deter Putin’s nuclear stance in Ukraine. It is natural that we should be wary of hawkish China, but it is not natural that other countries possess nuclear weapons. It is in our interest and accepted to align politically with a democratic United States, but not with their nuclear strategy. Let us not forget the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the devastating nuclear meltdowns of Chernobyl and Fukushima.
Saying no to nuclear weapons is not an act of weakness, unpatriotism, or appeasement, but an act of moral integrity that speaks to the higher nature of humanity. A long bastion against the doctrine of nuclear madness and mutual assured destruction, the ALP seems to have left the nuclear moral compass to our collective damage. Kevin Parker Bowral
Trajectory of the ruined cityscape
Hindsight is a wonderful thing (“Many streets in Sydney CBD have been designated car-free zones”, November 1). Endorsing the destructive overdevelopment of urban environments such as the CBD, Chatswood, Parramatta, Hurstville, and Barangaroo, resulting in mediocre high-rise towers, windswept canyons, shaded, shaded streets, narrow and cluttered with no shade. It uses sidewalks and 8-car trams. Behemoth, the usual seductive hippie happy lush computer-generated landscaping can’t cut it anymore. The plan has lost its mojo. It’s time to rethink our urban nightmare – sunny highlands beckon. Lionel Glendenning, Russell Lee
An artist’s impression of a proposed new development in Sydney CBD shows scattered trees jutting out from a large paved area. This is a prescription for worsening the heat island effect, which will get worse for years until the world slows down and hopefully stops global warming. Concrete jungles like the CBD can only be made more tolerable for pedestrians by installing proper grass and tree cover, or ‘green space’. Unfortunately, Canberra, dubbed ‘Bush Capital’, has gone the same way. Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin (ACT)
Border failure anger
When the Coalition was in government, if it wasn’t enough to be willfully cruel to refugees and asylum seekers under the pseudonym “keep the borders safe”, their failure made the security of the borders clear. I found it much lower. Act on clearly given advice. This allowed exploitation of vulnerable people, such as women sold as sex slaves, while criminals acted with impunity (“Fake visas sold for $500 per month”, November 1). Aren’t they shameless? Their cynicism and laziness knows no bounds. It makes my blood boil. Charman Brinks newcastle
caring not disrespectful
Your writer said, “It’s important that women take responsibility for their actions and face legal action from a turned back.”Returned IS women should be held accountable”, November 1). Exactly how or why the legal system must deal with sexually enslaved or bullied women in order to satisfy the appetites of ISIS partners is unknown to me. This populist Post Morrison / Dutton’s fear-mongering behavior requires a certain amount of compassion. The handful of traumatized women rescued from the horrors of Syrian detention camps does not surprise me as a logical focus of our security concerns. Ian Harrison, Drumoine
bling sports
Andrew Webster offers a thoughtful and balanced analysis of modern horse racing (seeTruths Cup critics don’t want to consider”, November 1). What makes us different is that he continues to call it a “sport” when it’s really a business. All support services and infrastructure are commercial enterprises. Horse racing should be covered in the business section of newspapers, not with pure sports that require human strength, agility and tactical skill. David Salter, Hunter’s Hill
happy hindsight
As Peter Hercher says, we can learn from the collapse of American democracy.Lessons from American Tragedy”, November 1). I was surprised to read that Australia was the world’s fourth-largest source of her QAnon conspiracy material, but in a fitting term for her Cup week in Melbourne, there’s no question that Australian democracy will survive. Harcher sees us protecting our electoral system as compulsory voting, building on the successes of multiculturalism, avoiding deviations into gross inequality, and civilizing social media. Australia can see the results of America’s performance on these issues. James Moore Kogara
Annoying tax story
New South Wales opposition leader Chris Minnes is walking a political tightrope over land and stamp taxes (seeLabor pledges to abolish land tax if elected”, November 1). With the elections just around the corner, why would he promise to restore the status quo and make every homebuyer pay a hefty amount of tax up front? There is no doubt that providing an alternative policy would be a smart move. It’s strange indeed. Michael Brissenden Dural
big question time
The discussion of the NAPLAN results that identified poor reading skills in boys is timely and welcome (letter, November 1). Educating children and young people is one of the most important things that society does. But two basic questions of his have not yet been asked, nor do they seem to be asked on a regular basis. What outcomes does Australian society want the education system to achieve? Exactly how will those outcomes be achieved? I can’t get there either. Trying to fix this or that bit in response to your specific problem will not work. Tom Mangan Woi Woi Bay
teacher’s lottery
What exactly do policy experts think experienced teachers do (see$150,000 salary with top teacher card”, November 1)? Additional responsibilities such as “opening the classroom for observation and supervising the students and early career teachers to teach” and (shock, horror!) “preparing lesson plans” are already taken on by experienced teachers. It’s just part of the day-to-day work of the additional obligations we have. If these are requirements for a big pay raise, go for it. Most teachers easily qualify for the highest amount offered. Again, it’s clear that the bureaucracy knows very little about what’s really going on in public schools. Peter Cooper-Southam french forest
money machine
As some private educators seek to take advantage of the government’s $4.5 billion childcare subsidy program, we see the usual merry-go-round beginning (“Daycare asks for 10% pay hike to keep staff”, November 1). I am very pleased that Early Childhood Australia has committed to exploring multi-employer negotiations. When private providers cannot run their businesses without pressure on parents with the funds provided, NSW will follow Victoria’s example by making early childhood education free and accessible to all, like primary school. is needed. Jenny Forster manly
reign, ukraine
Goodonya, Mate (“Thank you from all Ukrainians to Australia”, November 1). James Mahoney, McKellar (ACT)
cross reference
Biblicalism can work in reverse. The inscription on the cross of Jesus is often denoted as his INRI, a Latin acronym. The paintings that my students drew have the NRMA (letterNovember 1). Susan Connery, Lakemba
all action, no talk
Your correspondent Peter Butler apparently enjoyed his “first ballet” (letter, November 1). I remember the first and last time I saw a ballet. The dance was very good, but I didn’t hear a single line. Kent Mayo, Ulala
game plan pays off
Well done, Visit Victoria (“Netball Australia recovers $15 million lost in Reinhart deal collapse”, November 1). Your goal attack is triumphant with brilliant strategic play, and Netball his community and its supporters celebrate it. Wendy Atkins cooks hill
Trout and surroundings
Following a letter from a resident, I had to pull out a map book to find Bowling Alley Point (letter, November 1). For reference, the town has about 30 residents and is located in the Tamworth area. Doug Sheep Station is 26 km and Drunken Trout Cafe is 30 km. I think it’s worth a visit. Lynn Savage, Coogee
digital view
Online comments from one of the stories that garnered the most reader feedback yesterday smh.com.au
Workers must stick to Tier 3 tax cuts, but with one condition
From Jim Brockmire: “It’s the deductions that are destroying revenue collection: franking credits, negative gearing, home office deductions, and even laundry allowances. Throw these away and we’ll all be 35 You can pay 10% tax and 10% GST and be done with it.”
- to submit a letter to sydney morning heraldEmail letter@smh.com.au. Click here Tips on how to write letters.
- The Opinion Newsletter is a weekly wrap-up of views that challenge, defend and inform you. Sign up here.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/now-we-know-who-really-runs-nsw-business-as-usual-for-state-s-big-clubs-20221101-p5bujq.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_national_nsw Normal business for the state’s big clubs