In his address to the United Nations General Assembly, Donald Trump portrayed climate agreements as a “globalist concept” that forces successful nations to “inflict pain” on themselves (“‘Your countries are going to hell’: Trump stuns UN with tirade on immigration, climate ‘con job’”, September 24). This framing is deeply misleading. The real “pain” comes from failing to act: fires, floods, food shortages and widespread economic disruption are not abstract risks, but lived realities which will worsen without emissions reductions.

International agreements, far from being acts of self-punishment, are acts of solidarity and recognition of common responsibility. Industrialised nations, which built their prosperity on fossil fuels, have both the capacity and the obligation to lead the transition. Far from a burden, this shift is an opportunity – clean energy industries already create millions of jobs, while preserving habitability for future generations.

Rejecting cooperation because it is “globalist” ignores the reality that the atmosphere has no borders. A politics of denial and isolation may sound defiant, but it leaves us all weaker in the face of this shared crisis. Terry Hansen, Wisconsin (US)

I find it ridiculously hypocritical of Trump to complain about mass immigration during his address at the UN, when many of the immigrants are refugees fleeing from warfare, civil unrest, dictatorships or economic disasters, many of which were caused by or supported by the US government and its military. Mark Berg, Caringbah South

Donald Trump is right. His grandfather should never have emigrated from Germany to the US. The world might now have a US president who does not talk drivel. Ian Ferrier, Paddington

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, the president of the United States asserts that other countries are going to hell. Suspecting that America is already there, perhaps it is time for other countries to stop following its lead. Glen Dewing, Cooma

Back in the 90s, when complaining about our bosses and politicians, we would jokingly lament that the lunatics were running the asylum. Never in our wildest dreams did we envisage that it would come to pass that a real lunatic would take office in the White House. Trump’s speech to the UN leaves little doubt that this is the case. The cuckoo has come home to roost. Nothing left to do now but wake in fright every morning, reach for the Herald and hope that one’s dreaded expectations are not met. Donna Wiemann, Balmain

How does this rude, arrogant man command so much attention? Criticising the world’s most respected international peak body, berating and belittling its members, ignoring its rulings and requests, blocking its decisions, ridiculing its concerns, then complaining that it doesn’t back your campaigns is hardly the way to win friends and influence people.

Yet influence he does. Why is this so? Surely, it’s time the other leaders of the free world united in disapproval of this man and stopped tacitly accepting poor behaviour and kowtowing to Trump hubris. Meredith Williams, Baulkham Hills

Autism claim a threat

Maybe the geniuses who designed the study linking autism with paracetamol use may like to turn their attention to the causal effects between habits and diet during pregnancy and narcissists with delusions of grandeur (“As commentator-in-chief, Trump can be charming, even funny. Today he was dangerous”, September 24).

They could start with the mothers of Donald Trump and his administration and move on to the techbros. A fertile field for research indeed. Elisabeth Goodsall, Wahroonga

The reaction to Trump’s non-sensical rant about the thoroughly discredited link between paracetamol and autism says as much about the American populace’s gullibility and ignorance of basic statistics as it does about Trump’s inability to grasp the difference between truth and personal opinion.

Trump’s cognitive bias where he confuses cause with correlation is at best embarrassing but given the undue adulation he is afforded it’s a threat to American public safety. Trump doesn’t need Jimmy Kimmel to make him look stupid. Trevor Somerville, Illawong

Clearly a late bid for the Nobel Prize for Medicine. David Grant, Ballina

With three great scientific experts; Donald Trump, RFK Jr and Dr Oz together the field can’t wait to see more wonderful medical breakthroughs. Victoria Harrington, Thirroul

Could it just be that we have always had a similar proportion of neurodivergent people in the world, but the world is now a more difficult place in which to be neurodivergent and society now takes more notice of how people are different than how they are similar? We don’t know, so let’s just be accepting of neurodivergence and stop worrying mothers with unfounded allegations. Mary Anne Kennan, Burwood

Is it asking too much, but would it be possible to have a Trump-free day on the Letters pages? The world, at least for those 24 hours, would be a much more tolerable place. Jeff Apter, Keiraville

Coalition challenges

So, Andrew Hastie sees our future in manufacturing cars like the 1970 Ford Falcon in his video, presumably to compete with the Chinese electric cars he derides (“Price backs Hastie as he calls Liberals ‘cowards’ and ‘muppets’”), September 24.

It’s a big, loud petrol V8 caricature of Aussie blokiness. Thirsty, brash and nostalgic. A relic of a different time and a country dealing with a very different world. I can’t think of a more fitting icon for the Liberal right. Tony Judge, Woolgoolga

How long before conservative Liberal MP Andrew Hastie, backed by his Coalition and Advance cheer squad, starts calling for the introduction of national service, regular church attendance and mothercraft classes in all schools?
Sue Dyer, Downer (ACT)

Sussan Ley obviously doesn’t want to work towards a future for the Liberal Party any time soon (“We would reverse it: Ley writes back to republicans over recognition of Palestine”, September 23).

At our recent election, Australian voters turned their backs on divisive Trump-style politics offered by the Liberal Party and backed by the Advance lobby group. By cosying up to the American Republicans with promises to reverse the recognition of Palestine, Sussan Ley will push those on the fence and some on the right even further away from the party. Evelyn Konstantinidis, Albert Park (Vic)

Sussan Ley’s letter to Trump undermining Australia’s recognition of Palestine erroneously states that the majority of Australians do not support this view. The Opposition’s lack of support for Palestine is one reason for it to remain in opposition. What right does our Opposition Leader have to write to any country leader when not the leader of the government? Antoinette Riley, Marrickville

Coral Button is far too restrained (Letters, September 24). She would, surely, have been forgiven had she concluded her letter with a blunt suggestion that Sussan Ley button her lips next time. Edward Loong, Milsons Point

Booming obvious

Expectations for the Boomer generation apparently never cease to surprise younger generations (“Retiring types? Not these boomers”, September 25). Boomers have worked quietly and systematically for a career lifetime, (many from a very young age), they possess life experiences, work expertise and did it while creating the next generation.

In their older age, Boomers need to make decisions for themselves, just like younger generations because they, too, only have one life to live and they will live it their way. Janice Creenaune, Austinmer

Privatisation won’t stop train pain

The Minns government is right to resist privatisation to fund necessary heavy rail maintenance and upgrades (“Scathing review slams Sydney’s train network failures and a ‘lack of care’”, September 24). Any privatisation would necessarily mean profit-seeking is the focus of activity, rather than service to the travelling public. Put a broom through the ranks of middle managers in the transport department, but we’ll all be far worse off if the rent-seeking class is allowed anywhere near such an essential service. Greg Baker, Fitzroy Falls

Perhaps with the issue of maintenance of the rail network in mind the government should look up when crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. While travelling across it last week I looked up and saw panel after panel to be rusting and flaking. These panels lie in the arc of the overhead construction. Having not seen the previously ubiquitous painters for some time, I wonder if saving money has become more important than saving the bridge. Just look up when crossing! Molly King, Freshwater

The latest rail debacle comes as no real surprise to me. I spent 40 years investigating accidents, systems failures and managing safety in organisations. I’d suggest that the root causes of many of these issues are easily identifiable, well known, often well-documented, and conceptually easily fixed. The problem is that with the focus on cost, outsourcing of expertise, political interference and the active disbursement of accountability and responsibility through deliberate organisational “stovepipes” , coupled with often competing stakeholder interests and agendas, often no one is actually in charge, or more importantly, accountable.

Each time some systems failure occurs, such as the Northern Beaches Hospital, you find the same problems behind it. Invariably the government foots the bill and often uses the same orrelated procedures and processes to deliver the next big thing. Bernard Stever, Richmond

Not a top cop

I am dismayed that our premier does not think Mal Lanyon’s behaviour towards paramedics, and an attempt to leverage his status as a senior NSW Police officer by phoning the head of the NSW ambulance service to complain, does not disqualify him from being appointed police commissioner (“The appointment of Mal Lanyon as police commissioner shows the boys’ club is alive and well in Sydney”, September 24).

The recent use of the police boat for private recreation also reflects poorly on Mr Lanyon. I would have thought that having a lily-white record would be a prerequisite for appointment to the highest police job in the state. It is important for the police and for the public to perceive that the commissioner is a person of impeccable character – a role model. What authority and credibility will Mr Lanyon have when dealing with police officers who are drunk on the job, or who have used police resources for personal use? Salvatore Sorbello, Campsie

You’re wrong, Premier Minns – our police commissioner does need a lily-white record. We expect the person occupying this role to have demonstrated a long-standing adherence to integrity, clear thinking, sound judgment and ethical behaviour. They need to set and to display the standard within the NSW Police that is required and which the public expect, and any evidence of otherwise must rule them out. Otherwise, there is little or no respect for the role of commissioner from both within and from outside the NSW Police. And certainly, no respect for your decision and your factional politics. Iris Freeman, Woronora

Post office written off

The post office at Milsons Point is the hub of the community. It is a short level walk from the Greenway social housing complex – home to several hundred elderly and vulnerable people and also easily accessible for the residents of the James Milson retirement village. It is the only place for people to pay bills and do everyday banking. The staff of the post office are wonderfully patient and kind in the way they deal with their elderly and disabled customers.

Now Australia Post is closing this much-loved facility without regard to the consequences for the local people who depend on it. What of the legislated obligation of Australia Post to provide service to all Australians? This decision is heartless and a disgrace. Shame on those responsible. Keith Hartman, Kirribilli

Fight for funding

There would be no greater sign of the parlous state of arts funding if Sculpture by the Sea were to fold due to lack of government support (“Bondi’s Sculpture by the Sea event at risk”, September 24). The hugely popular event is open to the community for free and attracts locals and tourists alike who wonder at the exhibits and enjoy the beauty of the coastal landscape. This is Sydney at its best, and a more worthy recipient of government support than dubious enterprises such as horse racing and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Judith Campbell, Drummoyne

Poor service

Myer is making efforts to lure young people to the store (“‘We’ve only just reset’: Myer’s appeal to youth flounders as profits sink”, September 24). They would encourage shoppers of all ages if their service was more proactive. Recently, I went to purchase bedsheets. They were hard to find and compare as all were grouped by brands and widely separated. When I approached two salespeople who were tucked away chatting, they responded by pointing in various directions and then went back to their chat. I immediately left the store for a specialty store where the service was swift, attentive and helpful. Myer would do better if the floor staff really did offer service to its customers. Janetta Gilbert, Kirrawee

Deadly humour

My teenage sweetheart almost died laughing after hearing “take the life of a public health inspector” in the “Siberian Hamster” episode (“Fifty years on, Fawlty Towers is still the best of cruel British humour”, September 24). We had purchased our first home and watched on an ageing monochrome TV when she rolled onto the floor and laughed herself into fits of severe respiratory difficulty as her colour changed. My first aid training demanded “turn off the source of the danger”, attend to her breathing and calm her – we missed the final scenes! Ronald Elliott, Sandringham (Vic)

Silence is golden

Give me 10 ukuleles for one recorder played by a reluctant child (Letters, September 24). Peter Kamenyitzky, Copacabana

Happily ever after

I spent many years enjoying Mills & Boon romances, no longer available at Kmart for some reason (“I’m a bestseller. My genre keeps bookshops alive. Stop calling it ‘trash’”, September 24). It’s knowing there’s going to be a happy ending without viciousness and cruelty that is the hook. Susan Duffy, Thornleigh

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