Australian Trump
COULD we see a Donald Trump materialise in Australia? Hardly, under the current Westminster system. However, when we become a Republic it could be possible. Some say we are protected because we have mandatory voting. It is only mandatory to register at the polling booth.
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We are then given a voting form to complete, which is not compulsory, therefore becomes irrelevant. Mr Trump was very clever, marketing and targeting specific areas and underprivileged groups. Australia, the UK, Canada and US all have those same vulnerabilities and weaknesses, which are already manifesting themselves in the form of splinter political parties.
The likes of One Nation, Nick Xenophon and others are appearing as a result of disenfranchised citizens. Politicians are being sent a message by choosing “normal” people to represent them. Our professional politicians seem to be interested only in protecting their generous remunerations and are totally unaware of what average Australians are experiencing.
Wally Reynolds, Perth.
Euthanasia
REGARDING voluntary euthanasia (The Examiner, November 15) from Nica Cordover and Bruce Lindsay. It should be introduced. Christians believe their God will look after them after they die. So it's OK to suffer while here. I would like to point out to those like Mary Bates, she is perfectly entitled to believe what she likes, but I would guess most people don’t have her beliefs. I’ve been on this Earth a fair while now, have been to many parts of the world, seen suffering, lived through three main wars and many smaller ones. I believed in fairytales as a small child, but not now.
P. A. Grout, Launceston.
Salmon Farming
GLAMORGAN-Spring Bay Council's decision to approve an application by Tassal to expand its salmon farm enterprise in the East Coast's Okehampton Bay before the findings of the Marine Farming Review Panel and the Tasmanian Planning Commission is certainly putting the cart before the horse. The council sees jobs as the key factor in their decision, yet without the proper risk assessment how do they know at what cost to the environment would 28 fish pens be in the bay. May the waters not be murky on this one.
R. Lee, Summerhill.
New Generation
THREE generations ago, people had larger families. The parents knew that they needed children to look after them in their old age. Then came the "pill", and the government took over the job of looking after them in old age. Now, the present generation is either not working, or spending their cash as soon as they earn it.
They know that having children is a very expensive hobby. Government assistance depends on taxes taken from workers. If the present generation continues with big spending and a low birth rate, who is going to be there to pay taxes to support them in their old age. The people who have no children will bludge on taxes paid by other people's children, who have been produced at great expense by their parents. This source is drying up. The result will be the death of Western civilisation.
Bertel Sundstrup, Newstead.
No to terrorist
WHY does Prime Minister Turnbull want to get an known terrorist back in Australia who has had his passport cancelled, was thought to be dead and is wanted in several other countries? Australian justice has not got the fortitude to give someone like this terrorist the sentence he deserves. Why should the Australian government and its taxpayers have to foot the substantial cost of getting him here and then imprisoning him. Let the US or Israel have him were he will get what is surely coming to him.