Trump’s COVID battle brings out best and worst in political rivals

Yes, Chris Kenny (“Breathless hysteria over Trump’s COVID”, 5/10), what is even more riveting than second-guessing the impact of coronavirus infection on Donald Trump’s campaign is the way the media, depending on its bias, construes the release or lack thereof of every morsel of information on the President’s health.

George Fishman, Vaucluse, NSW

The current outpouring of leftoid ill-will towards Donald Trump as he battles coronavirus brings to mind a anecdote from commentator PJ O’Rourke. According to O’Rourke, his grandmother, a woman of taste and discernment, eschewed the word Democrats in the presence of children — she would say “bastards” instead. And quite right, too.

Terry Birchley, Bundaberg, Qld

What staggers me about Donald Trump’s supporters, and indeed some commentators, is that his behaviour is so consistently egregious that they have been desensitised to what has become a new norm in US politics. Meanwhile, Trump’s detractors have become increasingly frustrated that what was offensive just four years ago is no longer important in the rough, tumble and dishonest game of politics. What both sides don’t acknowledge is the power of anger. From my old marketing days I recall that expressing dissatisfaction and complaining is an urge that is seven times more powerful than sending off a compliment for a job well done. In that context, the US election will not be decided by the diehards in either camp. Instead, it will decided by a vast middle ground of mobilised, decent Americans voting for the candidate who has least offended their values.

Pete Smith, Heathcote, Vic

Soldiering on

We saw in Victoria what happened when hotel quarantine security guards were trained in diversity but not personal protection. We saw Victorian public servants congratulating themselves on their wokeness when they had let loose a second wave of COVID-19. Now special forces soldiers are to be trained to make “value based” decisions under pressure (“Special forces get training in ethics”, 5/10). Perhaps we should remember the adage that we sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would harm us.

Iain Rae, River Heads, Qld

Footy fever

Will Swanton writes of the electricity in the air at footy finals having gone through coronavirus (“The cutthroat drama of finals footy where you bleed, you leave”, 5/10). It is nothing short of a miracle for the codes to have survived and now to have spectacular nailbiting finals.

Swanton asks, “See all that?” to whip up a frenzy. But no prompting is needed for me to recall being at the Gabba in Brisbane Lions’ glory days, belting out the club song. Kudos to the AFL’s Gill McLachlan and the NRL’s Peter V’landys for shining through the coronavirus cloud to give the people what they want. And to Swanton, what a column.

Susan McLochlan, Caboolture, Qld

Ageing principles

The belief aged-care providers have cited for not having a greater number of nurses on hand to care for their residents is they “are over-qualified for some of the more menial tasks” (“An age without care”, 3-4/10). Who is deciding which tasks are menial? As a nurse of 45-plus years, there are no menial tasks when caring for another human being. I don’t believe a nurse providing personal hygiene sees this as a menial task. I do believe the only nurse on shift spending a good proportion of time administering medications, performing wound care and writing reports would embrace more “one-on-one” time with the residents in their care.

Ruth Moore, Paradise Point, Qld