For example there is still belief in trickle down economics through tax breaks to business and the denial of meaningful action to combat the effects of climate change by subsidising polluters rather than carbon taxing. Affordable housing is made out to be simply a “supply issue”.

They try to distract us by beating up issues that don’t exist or could be simply dealt with.

Issues such as marriage equality could be simply provided by an act of Parliament; Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act should not be changed; and Manus Island refugees should be brought to Australia.

Get on with the real issues such as genuine action on climate change, applying more effective resources to “bridging the gap” between white and indigenous communities; compassionate treatment of those seeking asylum from terror, a fairer tax and welfare system to tackle the fact that the rich are getting richer while the poor get poorer and addressing all the issues around affordable housing.

LETTER writers Ron Baines and Don Davey make some profound observations about religion and theatre, but what about politics? Surely politics is also about attempting to control our way of thinking and getting money from us to maintain the lifestyle of the political elite.

Politicians manipulate emotions to serve their own ends and they revel in pomp and ceremony. Politicians rely almost absolutely on magical thinking, misdirection, fictional tales and slight-of-hand to create the illusion that they alone are the solution to all your worldly problems.  They insist that they alone know what is right for you.

Malcolm Turnbull lauds that we are achieving our greenhouse gas targets then condemns the very technology that is largely responsible for the improvement! I think though, that it is only the theatre that knows its true place is as a thing of entertainment and as an agent of provocation of thought.

Both quite worthy undertakings. The other two seem to believe their own spin as if it were actually true, and have far fewer redeeming and far more reprehensible, features.

THROUGHOUT March, communities around the world are dedicated to raising awareness of epilepsy, culminating in Purple Day on March 26 (International Epilepsy Awareness Day).

During this time, people wear purple and hold events to raise funds and awareness of the condition that will affect more than 800,000 Australians in their lifetime, and 50 million people worldwide.

Sadly, due to social stigma and misconceptions, many people with epilepsy do not disclose their condition and live in fear of being ‘found out’.

This Purple Day, Epilepsy Action Australia would like to encourage communities to shine a light on epilepsy by lighting up purple a local landmark and raising funds for community education services to better the lives of those affected.

Interventions by Epilepsy Action Australia can help increase understanding in our communities, such as epilepsy awareness sessions, seizure first-aid training, and the Online Academy, which offers several courses about epilepsy for parents, carers, schools and healthcare professionals.

Please help shine a light on epilepsy this Purple Day and put your region on the map. On behalf of all Australians living with epilepsy, thank you in advance to your readers for supporting Epilepsy Action Australia.