Trumpian vision for US means unavoidable chaos for the world

Is “Trump’s tariff chaos” really “a case of power without purpose”, as Henry Ergas posits (11/4)?

A bull in a china shop, and the consequent wreckage, may seem to demonstrate chaotic power without purpose. But the bull’s furious purpose is to break free of what confines it.

Similarly, the global economy is Trump’s china shop, with Trump, in overweening – some would say narcissistic – self-confidence, exercising power to break free of anything he considers a restraint on his vision for America, an America beholden to none, believing in its supreme ability to bend and mould friend and foe alike to its will. The purpose in Trump’s wielding of power is for a triumphant Trumpian America. However, whether Trumpian designer chaos will deliver such an outcome is another matter, an unknown with repercussions not just for America, but for the world.

Deborah Morrison, Malvern East, Vic

With the US and China at loggerheads, the most interesting contest will be between a marketplace of individuals and a command economy.

Donald Trump has China between a rock and a hard place. Xi Jinping would be wise to pick up the phone soon and call Trump. All Xi’s cadres will have no idea what to do while they watch the Chinese economy go into decline. They are waiting for Xi to tell them what to do, terrified to jump the wrong way and ruin their individual lives.

I would place my money on the market economy, with millions of people making individual decisions to benefit themselves and their families, rather than on China’s command economy, with its inflexibility and inability to react to radical change.

Alexander Haege, Tamarama NSW

No matter what the tariff outcome is, the US has lost something it cannot replace with dollars. The trust a firm friend has had in the US since the Vietnam War. A lot of Australian blood has flowed with American blood in every US international campaign.

Can we rely anymore on US support? The time to grow up and become an independent nation has arrived.

Charles Simmonds, Hornsby, NSW

There is something wrong with a democratic system of government where one person can autocratically determine and implement policy of international import.

It could lead to situations where a less morally bound person than Donald Trump could be tempted to manipulate the markets through insider trading. How fortunate we are.

Brian Tiernan, Melrose Park, SA

‘Labor credit card’

Here is a tip for the Liberal Party campaign strategists.

Issue every Liberal candidate standing in the election with a sizeable, portable bright red Labor “credit card” that can be pulled out and flashed in front of the cameras at every opportunity.

Of course, these cards would have to demonstrate that they had been issued to the Australian Labor Party with apparently no credit limit, no monthly repayment requirement and an expiry date of, say, 2080. Explain to voters that contrary to the endless spin of the Labor Party machine, the debt on this big red credit card is real and future generations will be responsible for the reckless spending of a party that proudly proclaims a mantra of “whatever it takes” to remain in office.

A boring strategy, but if repeated often enough it may just work. The Medicare card trick used by the Prime Minister has surely passed its use-by date.

Merryl Symons, Main Beach, Qld

I cannot decide which is the hardest thing I engage in these days. I cannot choose between my NRL footy picks and trying to determine who is going to win the federal election.

In tight contests, so much in the footy is determined by the officiating referees, and not the players. The major difference between the footy and the federal election is, of course, that in the NRL, four officials preside over any game, an on-field referee, two touch judges and a bunker referee. In the federal election, there are approximately 18 million eligible voters who will officiate at the event. As much as I can blame the footy officials for my somewhat wayward picks, just who can I single out to blame if my electoral pick goes awry? Actually, only one person. Me.

Crispin Walters, Chapel Hill, Qld

Teaching has changed

Many moons ago I used to stand in front of classes of pupils and students – I taught at all three academic levels at different times – and I remain convinced that there is much more to teaching than just “being good with youngsters” (“Unis lower the bar for trainee teachers”, 10/4).

Years ago, the Scottish system set the standard by insisting that only those with a subject degree could be admitted to the teaching profession. That, presumably, meant that a BEd wouldn’t cut it.

John Sheldrick, Peppermint Grove, WA