Many of us would be happier if President Biden had kept his word and refused to pardon his son, Hunter, before leaving office (“President lets his son get off”, December 3). Or perhaps Hunter Biden could have behaved nobly, refused to accept the offer and served his punishment. But the pursuit of Biden Jnr has been vindictive and out of proportion to his crimes. Despite this unrelenting pursuit, he has continued his recovery from drug addiction. Perhaps if President Biden had confidence that the administration of justice under incoming President Donald Trump would be fair and rational, he might have felt able to withhold this pardon. Marjorie Sutcliffe, The Rocks
Hunter Biden after pleading guilty to federal tax charges in September.Credit: AP
When then President Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, the father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in his final weeks of office, he was impervious to criticism. Both acts are disrespectful of the independence of the justice system. But what 82-year-old father leaving public office with the power to do this wouldn’t do the same? Even presidents share human frailties with ordinary people. Irene Nemes, Rose Bay
Biden politically and passionately pardons his son. Trump will pardon himself. The difference; people died under Trump’s insurrection goading. Michael Cronk, Dubbo
When President Biden pardoned his son, he opened a Pandora’s box. During the next four years, Donald Trump will weaponise this pardoning process to protect his children. They can break a US law and their father will pardon them. Life is good when a person is related to Donald Trump. Peter Rayner, Newcastle
Democracy includes the key necessary separation of powers principle between the judiciary and the executive. The established use of presidential pardons in the US surely jeopardises its proud claim to be the world leader of democracy. It also mocks the role of their independent judiciary. Steve Ngeow, Chatswood
Why are we discussing President Biden’s exercise of pardoning his son,
and what it will do to his legacy? We should be discussing how an
elected leader of a democratic country with established laws and a
judiciary can exercise the powers of an 18th-century monarch. Kristina Vingis, Church Point
President Biden’s pardoning of his patently guilty son is distressing. This is the sort of behaviour usually associated with Donald Trump. Chris Smith, Kingston (ACT)
So US President Joe Biden has decided to pardon his son, Hunter, who was convicted on federal gun and tax charges, after repeatedly vowing not to. This is a direct contradiction of Democratic rhetoric that Donald Trump will politicise the Department of Justice. Hypocrisy at its finest. Paul Stiles, Mount Gambier (SA)
Today we can mark it down as official – justice as it’s known in much of the world has ceased to exist in the US. Presidents are like kings, untouchable by the law, and on their way out can pardon all manner of felons, including their own sons. The Democrats have relinquished any possibility for credible criticism of Trump when he pardons the grab bag of serving prisoners he has promised to release. Maureen Partridge, Baulkham Hills
An extra turkey (this one from the home farm) pardoned by the US president this Thanksgiving. Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills
Up close and personal
Substantial research indicates the government’s social media ban is on the right track (Letters, December 3). Excessive screen time is detrimental to health, according to an American university study of smartphone usage by 500,000 adolescents, conducted between 2010 and 2015. Teens whose use exceeded five hours a day had 70 per cent more likelihood of suicidal thoughts or behaviour than those using phones for less than one hour daily. Suicide risk factors increased after two hours online. Importantly, unlike school-yard bullying, cyber-bullying can occur 24/7, the abuse is publicly paraded and it remains eternally on the internet.
Conversely, personal relationships have emerged as the key to happiness. Harvard University’s 80-year longitudinal study has found good human-to-human relationships most strongly boost mental health, happiness and longevity, even outweighing the effect of factors such as social class, IQ and genes. Barbara Chapman, South Yarra (Vic)
Given the trend to break into train cabins to ride the outside of vehicles is fuelled by social media, with resulting deaths, train delays and economic cost, we should be grateful to Labor for their wisdom in a world-leading ban (“Teens break into train cabins in rising trend”, December 3). Anne Matheson, Gordon
Correspondents lamenting children’s access to social media remind me of Ned Ludd, who some centuries ago led the revolt against the plough. We must manage change, not try to bury our heads in resistance. Ken Shelston, Monterey
RBA approach fails jobless
As the RBA’s approach to inflation disproportionately impacts vulnerable people, surely it is time for the government to increase JobSeeker and simplify access to ensure a safety net for those impacted due to policy decisions (“Reserve Bank accused of getting it wrong on rates – again”, December 3).
Margie Christowski, Roseville
Arguments about the relationship between nominal wage growth and inflation can’t now rely, if ever it were possible, on the Phillips Curve approach which was blown out of the water by stagflation in the 1970s. Think also about the large decline in the real value of unemployment benefits. To this incentive to work for sustenance we can add the depletion of savings caused by the previous RBA regime’s zero interest rate policy in tandem with inflation. Against this background, the current mob at the RBA are performing a fine juggling act. Mike Bush, Port Macquarie
Fall of an empire
How the American voters could re-elect someone whose previous term involved such calamity and insanity is profoundly depressing, while none of Donald Trump’s proposed appointments would indicate he’s any wiser (“Trump is America’s Caligula. His mission is to destroy what made America great”, December 3). In fact, they would tend to corroborate claims of advancing senility. Bryant’s comparison with Caligula is entirely appropriate. One wonders when J.D. Vance will send in the Praetorian Guard? Grant Heaton, Port Macquarie
Caligula Credit: Dionne Gain
I am currently reading Simon Sebag Montefiore’s Jerusalem: The Biography, an epic history of this 3000-year-old city. Nick Bryant compares Donald Trump to Caligula; Montefiore’s description of the upbringing of this erratic Roman emperor is remarkably similar to Trump’s. Is it possible that aspects of human history do tend to recur in different times and places? Bernard Moylan, Bronte
Now that Caligula reigns over the US, will a latter-day Edward Gibbon come forward to write The Decline and Fall of the American Empire? Christine Miller, Robertson
Gas leak
I read with some bemusement two articles located near each other in the Herald, (“Voters back Labor’s HECS changes”, December 3) and (“It’s dumb, but gas-rich Australia has little option but to import gas”, December 3). In May, the Herald reported that Australia is missing out on $13 billion in royalties from gas projects.
Australia also charges students for university; the architect of the HECS scheme suggests free tertiary education or near-free tertiary education such as Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Spain and France is a fantasy. Maybe if the Australian decision makers who gave away our gas had kept some for Australia and charged appropriate royalties, free tertiary education would not be the fantasy that responsible government is. Rob Siebert, Skennars Head
French delights
I’m croissant-curious, but would I line up for one (“Sydney, get ready for the Lune landing”, December 3)? At the mention of ham and gruyere versions, the answer is yes. Lisa Clarke, Watsons Bay
Lune croissanterie founder Kate Reid in the new Rosebery site. Credit: Edwina Pickles
Loss to cricket
Greg Chappell’s moving tribute to Ian Redpath reminds us all of the supreme importance of teamwork and example, not only in cricket but in life itself (“Resilience, humility and commitment to the team: A tribute to Ian Redpath”, December 3). The sense of gratitude from one of the greats of Australian sport, written with humility and strong affection, highlights the positive impact that resilient, talented but modest males can have upon each other and thereby society at large. Vale Redders and well written, Greg. Trevor Wootten, Petersham
Medical support for women falling short
I’m a private patient advocate (The Herald’s View, December 3). The majority of my clients are female and a high proportion engage me to overcome poor medical management, much of it gender-related. A current client of mine may die from medical misogyny. She has a female gynaecologist whom I hope doesn’t describe colleagues as “gorgeous male physicians”, as Dr Marilla Druitt does. She needs support, not gaslighting. Dorothy Kamaker, Whale Beach
So, women, over half the population, are a “minority group”. Who knew? Mary Billing, Allambie Hts
Drug law reform
Perhaps it’s time to stop holding inquiries into drugs and have one that asks why our lawmakers can’t stomach evidence-based lawmaking (“Another drug summit? This time, don’t tick boxes – save lives”, December 3). Colin Stokes, Camperdown
Out-of-home care travesty
A report has found major shortcomings in the Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) system in New South Wales (“Claims of double-charging and excessive rent in NSW child protection system”, December 2). This not the first critical review, but it is the most damning as the problems mount and the answers are not forthcoming. When the fashion for outsourcing government responsibility to non-government providers hit OOHC, the writing was on the wall: Offload children with complex needs to other organisations and offload accountability at the same time; fail to meet shared responsibilities for care planning and resources then have to pump in more money to keep things afloat, all the while dropping the ball on financial and quality oversight of the providers.
The result is a disaster for the children and young people, a strain on non-profit providers and a river of funding for private providers who have the upper hand with government. The decision to get out of providing direct care had its roots in the appalling historical residential care system that came under fire in the 1990s. Sadly, it was easier to pass the buck, the children and the responsibility, rather than meet legal and ethical obligations to children at risk. Eric Scott, Bondi Junction
Walk the walk
May I suggest that the business team currently trying to implement a new productivity framework incentive on warehouse staff try this new system for themselves first (“Woolworths launches bid to stop union blockade of warehouse”, smh.com.au, December 3)? Just might give them a deeper understanding of why their staff are currently on strike. Marian Attfield, Mt Colah
Political high horse
If Paul Fletcher thinks voters were conned by the independents, particularly through the works of Allegra Spender and Kate Chaney, he may well have provided extra baseball bats to the electors in some other blue ribbon seats (Letters, December 3). We, the voters, do not like being treated as fools. Nor do we like politicians who regard us as fools. Gordon Chirgwin, Harrington
Paul Fletcher’s rant about everyone who doesn’t agree with him being left-wing is puerile. It is the immature politics of the 80s when he probably joined the Liberal Club at his university. He categorises every issue as having a left and right side. The teals have no attachment to left or right – they are issues-based individuals who make their own call. I am a suburb away from being in Kate Chaney’s electorate in WA. I have had the pleasure of meeting her and she is nothing more than an educated, articulate woman who cares for those around her. That is enough for me. John Rome, Mt Lawley (WA)
Sophie Mirabella most famously referred to “her” electorate of Indi in a Good Weekend article before the 2013 election and promptly lost to community independent Cathy McGowan, since succeeded by fellow community independent Helen Haines. This exemplifies the complete lack of understanding of what drives voters. The independents are gaining ground not because of their “deliberate plan” to select relatives of formerly well-known Liberals, but because those Liberals are not seeing people like them any longer in the party. The problem for Fletcher and other Coalition members is that the voters clearly prefer what the independents offer. They are holding up a mirror and the Coalition is refusing to look, let alone see what the voters want them to become if they wish to be electable. Mark Walker, West Kempsey
Paul FletcherCredit: Cathy Wilcox
Paul Fletcher, my local member, insults the intelligence of the voting public by suggesting that Liberal voters were “conned” into voting for teal independents at the 2022 election. The reality was that many of us were tired of a decade of climate denial and inaction by successive Coalition governments, their apparent problem with women and the stench of the Robo-debt and Sports Rorts scandals. We were happy to vote for local independent candidates who ran on platforms designed to address these problems. No con job here; just rational decisions made before casting one’s precious vote. John Bellamy, St Ives
Poor old Paul Fletcher looking for relevance and attention. No doubt the voters who made a conscious decision to vote teal will be impressed by his implication that they were fools and dupes. Yep, that will get the back to his side! Just shuffle off, Paul. Tony Sullivan, Adamstown Heights
It seems that Paul Fletcher has been duped by the Liberal Party. Jock Brodie, Port Macquarie
I live in Paul Fletcher’s electorate and have written a few emails to him. Never did he once respond to any of my emails. Peng Ee, Castle Cove
Paul Fletcher might like to consider whether telling the voters in
Wentworth they are stupid is the best way to restore the Liberal vote. Lyle Procter, Woollahra
I never thought it could happen, but Paul Fletcher has dethroned Peter Dutton as the whipping boy of the lefties in the letter pages. Keep it up Paul. Roger Cedergreen, Kirrawee
I often watch Paul Fletcher in parliament, where he seems so tediously busy, making endless notes, and very occasionally contributing a modest “hear, hear”. Judging by Herald letters, it appears Mr Fletcher has ignored the habits of a political lifetime, spoken up, and upset the odd apple-cart. Damn – somehow I missed it all. Rosemary O’Brien, Ashfield
Price of shade
I beg to differ John Kingsmill (Letters, December 3). Our Ryde council still has street sweepers clearing/cleaning our streets regularly, and as one who has a large, pesky camphor laurel tree in the yard, yes the leaves are annoying at certain times of the year, but it gives such lovely cooling shade
over the house in this weather I put up with the inconvenience. Llieda Wild, Eastwood
Love letters
Having consulted an inappropriately qualified professional, I’m happy to report I’m not a compulsive writer but do suffer from high rhetoric levels, an over-abundance of eloquence and chronic superconductivity, which makes dashing off a missive impossible to resist (Letters, December 3). Peter Fyfe, Enmore
I had no idea I was suffering from those terrible diseases. With the current effectiveness of antibiotics in decline, I’m afraid I won’t be cured soon. Robert Hosking, Paddington
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