Families may have to adjust their lifestyles to a more modest reality

Expectations have risen beyond the means to afford them so now is the time to scale back our spending.

David Uren (“Consumer retreat provides more fertile ground for Labor”, 7/2) provides a thoughtful overview of the disparity between consumer spending and increasing household costs versus stagnant income for most. The question we must ask is whether this is a reality check: could this simply be a correction to a way of life that has spiralled out of control for several years?

There was a time when families spent their money on the essentials of life and what was left went to savings and a treat or two. Expectations of the latter were meagre. What happens now is that what were treats are now the norm. Take for example coffees and meals out: we drink more of the former and we eat more of the latter — it’s a daily routine, an expectation. You only have to look at the growing number of cafe bars and restaurants to confirm this. In essence, our priorities have changed; our expectations are greater. An increase in wages is something most of us would wish for. But we need to remember two things: firstly, the cost gets passed on to the consumer so we all pay; secondly there is a thing called productivity, or value for money.

John George, Terrigal, NSW

Leave reading list alone

Don’t teachers have anything better to worry about than same-sex literature for the kids in school? (“Teachers push for same-sex reading”, 7/2) If the percentage of books on the reading list featuring same-sex attracted characters matched the percentage of LGBQIT students in the classroom, I would say that the inclusion of The Great Gatsby would more than fill the quota. It may come as a surprise to Kelli McGraw and Lisa van Leent that heterosexuality is, in fact, the norm.

Frank Pulsford, Aspley, Qld

I’m sorry Kelli McGraw and Lisa van Leent, but it’s difficult to take seriously anyone who uses terms such as “heteronormativity” in relation to the English syllabus. The one and only criteria for the inclusion of any text is its literary merit.

All other considerations are beside the point if students are to be challenged, stimulated, and encouraged to expand their horizons.

Helen Scheller, Benalla, Vic

Truth is the priority

It is time to change the antiquated law about lawyer client privilege (“Lawyer X turned snitch after drug charges were dropped,” 7/2).

If anyone, including lawyers and priests, has information about a person who has committed a crime, or information about a crime that may be committed, they should not only be allowed to tell the police, but they should be compelled to do so. There should be no confidentiality when it comes to protecting innocent people from violence, drugs and crime.

I believe that Lawyer X’s information was crucial in stopping the gangland murders in Melbourne and in intercepting a huge drug shipment into Australia.

Jennifer Horsburgh, Elanora, Qld

Abolish the banks’ lobby

I’m surprised that only John Simpson has called for the winding up of the Australian BankingAssociation. (The hard road back to respect, 6/2”). How can there be even a pretence of competition among “The Big Four” when they jointly fund a lobby group to sway government to their advantage?

ABA chief executive Anna Bligh has been talking to the void for months. More pained mea culpas from her would only further diminish her masters’ reputations.

Frank Scahill, Coffs Harbour, NSW

Trump change doubtful

How can we believe that a “bare-knuckle brawler” has turned into a gentleman negotiator overnight? (“Trump’s bipartisan gesture”, 7/2). There is no solid evidence so far.

Bill Mathew, Parkville, Vic