I love sitting in the Civic Square surrounded by the most beautiful buildings and all except the Library where here when I first visited Launceston as a child nearly 70 years ago, and will remain long after I have gone.

History is also about people as they pass through time, as the hymn writer states: "We blossom and flourish as leaves on a tree and wither and perish but naught changeth thee".

Often the the headstones of graves and columbariums tell us a little about that person. Sometimes lives change history.

Our churches also record history and the buildings will remain long after ishops have gone to God. They may however have a different use for example Andy’s Night Club at Evandale.

Who knows. The concept of history is infinite, the eternity that is past and the eternity to come.

We are but a flash in it, so make the most of every moment.

Malcolm  Scott, Newstead.

I USUALLY write when I am disgruntled about the world or just my own.

I lament about politicians and I whinge about traffic plus. I forget about all the personas writing and documenting this countries shortcomings.

Yes, things are not as we would like them to be, but often that is in the eye of the beholder. Tasmania is known as God’s own acre and it is indeed a place for all to visit.

I agree that we will always have issues that we do not agree with and we can write many letters, albeit ignored by the powers in charge.

How about just knowing that at the end of the day someone will connect with our words. The saying that words speak louder than actions is the reason why newspapers were invented many eons ago.

Brings back the saying, make your actions speak louder than words.

Felicity O'Neill, Westbury.

IN response to Saturday’s letter (The Examiner, September 29).

We may show better growth than other OECD countries, however, other OECD countries still own oil refineries, car manufacturing and most of their industries.

They would never sell important harbours (like Darwin) to the Chinese. Business as usual has to come to an end, now we have to look for a new approach to survive.

As long as our political leaders consider their careers to be more important than Australia’s future, and manage to buy votes with never to be kept promises our future is not secure.

Horst Schroeder, East Devonport.

GIVEN that growing salmon in Tasmania is a major growing business along with major associated issues given both appear to be the case would it therefore be fair to suggest that if the Tamar River was restored to its former pristine glory that the mighty Tamar being Australia's longest navigable tidal estuarine could become Tasmania's salmon growing capital, bearing in mind it is incumbent upon governments to restore Mother Nature to varying forms of former glory.

Ian Fitch, George Town.

WE now know the nature of government in Australia.

The Prime Minister and his ministers have over-reached by direct pressure on ABC management via their own handpicked board members.

The Liberal Government has directly placed barriers in the way of progress on many issues such as same sex marriage, banking rorts, finance and superannuation industry abuses, Catholic and institutional sexual abuse of children and Aboriginal reconciliation.

We know the outcomes of some of these inquiries.

The Government instigated an inquiry into Bill Shorten’s behaviour in the union movement and produced nothing and then there was the raid on the BWU again nothing eventuated.

There was reef gate and abuse of process while at the same time there has been under funding of state schools and the ABC with funds restored to Catholic schools.

As for democracy, we live in an unrepresentative failing democracy. Women are way under-represented.

There is bullying and branch stacking where small numbers chose who we get to vote for. We have presidential style party campaigns which make the local representative almost irrelevant.

The connection between elector and representative is lost. The influence of campaign fund donors and lobbyists on policy has expanded dramatically while the influence of the people and facts of the matter has withered to almost nothing.

We need a republic and Constitutional review program, peopled by non-politicians.

People’s jury representatives and experts from across the appropriate academic, business, bureaucratic, press, legal and services sectors tasked with proper consultation, analysis, and critical thinking and rational review to identify options and possibilities.

A national vision. Perhaps our version of the American Constitution penning 230 years ago. Democracy in Australia is failing bit by bit as unscrupulous politicians chip away at our most valued institutions and ideals.

M Fyfe, Riverside.

YES, we do want jobs and growth - sustainable jobs and growth.  

Tourism and forestry needs to be responsibly managed for now and into the future.

Thank goodness for the Greens who are looking after those interests.

Gail Warren, East Devonport.