Recent debates and events at all levels have been at gutter level and more about individual muscle flexing than legitimate community benefit.

At the national level it seems to revolve around popularity point scoring and faction wars. Honesty with and for constituents is sadly a long lost commitment from those in our national capital. Perhaps the best example of the depth of mediocrity at state level has been the pitiful government reaction from the mandatory sentencing bill loss.

Leadership goes missing again but resorts to social media trash. Local level - what a mess. Who will be the next to have a fight or a long running court process at ratepayers expense? Leadership is mostly about publicity through marginally applicable 'macro' issues at the expense of basic services to their communities.

IS IT time for the Tasmanian people to reconsider the AFL mercenary activity of sending their teams of initial financial distress to Tasmania, with the expectation that the naïve governments of Tasmania will donate other people’s money for the excess and convenience of the AFL?

It may be for the people of this state to reject this narcissistic junket, and ask not the AFL, but the people of Australia, to be considered equal participants, not patronised “cash cows” from the most disadvantaged state in the country.

MALCOLM Scott, from the position of an ex-Methodist, declares the Uniting Church is in peril. May I suggest that it is in peril of becoming relevant by seeking to pursue an authentic faith for the 21st century?

I, too, left the Uniting Church soon after its inauguration, but as an ordained minister. I have recently returned as a layperson, as I found it to be one of the few churches which not only allowed alternative points of view, but actively encouraged its people to question their faith, discard what was not helpful and embrace and celebrate the good, true and beautiful.

The UCA may be smaller in numbers than in 1977 but I believe it is positioning itself to be an inclusive community of faith here in Launceston and beyond.

IN The Sunday Examiner (June 25) I see that the crisis within Tasmania’s Health Service has just deepened yet again with the resignation of the north’s only neurologist, Doctor Kurien Koshy. Once again the ex-school teacher, Health Minister Michael Ferguson declares he has no knowledge of Dr Koshy’s distress.

Either he should fall on his sword and be replaced by someone better qualified and cognisant of the requirements of the portfolio, or he should investigate (and cull if necessary) the fat cats in the THS, sort out the communication problems and act accordingly.

Personally, as a heart patient who is waiting for another precautionary angiogram, I just pray that my excellent cardiologist doesn’t follow suit. He and his team have saved my life once and the alternative doesn’t bear thinking about.

BODHI McSweeney (The Examiner, June 22) asks why a residential drug rehabilitation facility may appear on the main street in the middle of Meander?

I reckon it’s largely due to the fact that the Meander Valley Council failed the community when it turned down the offer of purchasing the school at “peppercorn” rates.