Jacqueline Maley nails it (“Conga line of Trump sycophants shows us what weakness looks like”, March 2). Trump and his acolytes’ desperate attempts to project themselves as macho and manly are becoming more laughable by the day. To suggest to a man who is trying to protect his people from an aggressor (which is trying to destroy his country) that he is playing with a below-par deck of cards, and then to take childish offence at his riposte and label him ungrateful is the ultimate insult. Zelensky wins hands-down in the macho stakes and he’s not even trying. I bet he doesn’t care about the macho image nonsense. He is a man with values. He’s trying to save his country with dignity and bravery. That’s admirable. Kim Williams, Sunrise Beach
President Donald Trump, Elon Musk of the Department of Government Efficiency, and Vice President JD Vance.Credit: AP
Jacqueline Maley bemoans the macho men who grovel to Trump. Billionaire Jeff Bezos, for example, has directed his Washington Post to reject viewpoints that oppose personal liberties and free markets. Integrity and freedom are fast going out of fashion, Maley concludes. So, well done to The Sun-Herald for publishing the opinions of Parnell Palme McGuinness (“I misjudged PM’s all-too-human vibe”, February 23) despite the predictable disdain of many letter writers. Is it not more important than ever to venture outside one’s ‘bubble’ to consider contrary views? Martin O’Hare, Farrer (ACT)
By surrounding himself with these men, just as the school bully surrounds himself/herself with sycophants, Trump has shown himself to be a weak man with no leadership or statesman-like qualities – qualities sorely needed in the fractured USA of 2025. Let’s hope Australia’s leadership does not become one of the “bootlickers”. Jennifer Gilder, Bligh Park
That’s freedom
How apposite was the lovely front-page Mardi Gras caption of “free to be” (“Proudly pink for the rainbow parade” March 2), with Jacqueline Maley’s column quoting Yale historian Tim Snyder. His idea that true freedom refers to “freedom to” rather than “freedom from” seems only a utopian ideal in so many parts of a world dominated by ugly authoritarians exercising their lust for power. So, give us “freedom from” in the first instance and “freedom to” will surely follow. Helen Lewin, Tumbi Umbi
Test and protect
While pill testing is better than not testing (“Inside the pill testing tent where drugs are not illegal”, March 1) it is a minor and imperfect way to protect young people at events. Even if the pill tested is good, the user has no way of knowing if the second pill they bought is from the same batch and equally safe. Similarly, if even 10 per cent of pills that day were tested, the safety of the other 90 per cent remains unknown. The only truly safe solution, given people will continue to take drugs, is to have their manufacture strictly regulated by government. Lee Cook, Orange
It seems oxymoronic to have sniffer dogs patrolling music festivals where safe drug testing is in place. Total nonsense. Mike Keene, Mollymook Beach
Fishy business
Thank you to Caitlin Fitzsimmons for raising awareness about the “big stink” associated with Tasmania’s salmon industry (“The big stink: Australia’s ‘salmon war’ is getting ugly”, March 2). Three companies, all owned by multinational corporations – Tassal, Huon and Petuna – are profiting from Lutruwita/Tasmania’s pristine image, all the while polluting our inshore waters and driving the endangered Maugean skate towards extinction. It’s disappointing that the major political parties are pandering to these big corporations at the expense of a healthy environment. Proactive leaders would find solutions that support Tasmanian jobs without risking the wildlife and environment we love. Susan Hoult, Hobart
Primary objective
In her article (“A need for childcare that hits home”, March 2), Parnell Palme McGuinness concentrates on childcare as a means of allowing women to work, and doesn’t once talk about this stage as education to prepare children for primary school. I wish we could dispense with the word “childcare”, which suggests it is a passive process, and replace it with the more active and accurate description of “early childhood education”. Andrew Macintosh, Cromer
That’s rich
I note the multimillionaires writing to financial advice columns asking for advice (“We have $1m in savings but only $250k in super. Should we change that?”, March 2). The likes of: “We are a couple approaching retirement. We own two houses, each valued at about $2 million, have $500 000 in savings and a combined $1.8 million in super. Would it be wise to use the savings to invest in an annuity?” Do these correspondents really need financial advice? Shane Nunan, Finley
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