Gina Rinehart’s unbridled endorsement of Donald Trump’s agenda is depressing (“Time to learn from US policy, says Rinehart”, November 9). Her contention that deregulation and lower taxes will boost the economy is highly questionable. What is beyond question is that deregulation and cutting taxes will facilitate super-exploitation of the labour force, extreme degradation of the environment, profound undermining of endeavours to counter climate change and weakening of public education, health and government benefits for people, who rely on government benefits to survive. Alan Morris, Eastlakes
Rinehart with former Liberal Party vice president Teena McQueen (left), and Nigel Farage, the leader of the conservative UK Reform party, at Trump’s election watch party.
Peter Dutton says there’s “an eerie parallel with what’s happening here” (“Voters here feel the same anger”, November 9). That wouldn’t have anything to do with adopting the Trump playbook and finding it worked on the Voice, would it? Most of us would prefer an election campaign devoid of disinformation and hate speech. I have no confidence that truth will be a determinant of his campaign rhetoric. Death taxes might work again. Alan Watterson, Hastings Point
Wondering if Peter Dutton’s “eerie” feeling about the political situation here in Australia is similar to Trump’s return in the US. Perhaps he is suggesting the return of Scott Morrison. Bernie Mahon, Newport
So after stoking division and playing on fear as leader of the opposition, Peter Dutton now claims “voters here feel the same anger” as those in the US. Sounds more like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Dutton is playing out of the same game plan as Trump, feeding into the insecurities and uncertainties in the electorate, amplifying them, then using them to justify draconian policies. The parallel he speaks of is of his own making, cheered on by the Murdoch media and millionaire moguls. Neil Ormerod, Kingsgrove
Such a good article by Bill Wyman on the dark side of Trump’s election win (“Red America raised me, now I fear it”, November 9). He might have added: Donald Trump’s legions of supporters have never had so much fun in their lives, giving the establishment and the privileged the finger and then winning – what could be more delightful! So Hillary Clinton’s “deplorables” took their revenge, and who could blame them after their jobs went south to Mexico, their mines closed down, the rich got richer and no one cared. Caroline Graham, Cromer
The prevalence of pro-Trump sentiment in the Young Liberal movement is a disgrace – a starkly illiberal phenomenon which stands at odds with what the Liberal Party ought to be and is at its best. The ACT Young Liberals were celebrating his victory as were many in the NSW branch. Conservatives within the party should take note of John Howard’s refusal to endorse Trump, a refusal echoed by sober-minded Republicans in America. Trumpist invective can only worsen the standard of our national discourse, and would make an enemy out of liberalism and our consensus-based political culture. Will Thorpe, Haberfield
It is increasingly evident that we are marching along with the lemmings to jump off the inevitable cliff top. In developed countries, we are all living well beyond our means in this finite world. The struggle for an evermore comfortable lifestyle has delivered us political systems increasingly governed by those with influence or money. Not surprisingly, the inequitable distribution of wealth is leading to wars and massive discontent among the unfortunate who are missing out on their fair share. But even more serious is the unsustainable impact we humans are inflicting on the global environment – massive deforestation, over-fishing, plastic pollution, unsustainable mining, climate change and overpopulation to name a few. And now we have the US abandoning a hard-fought democracy in favour of a wildly erratic despot in the hope of a better world. As one letter writer observed, the problem is our flawed system of capitalism that rewards greed and the concentration of wealth in the hands of those who are growing more powerful all at the expense of unity and social cohesion. Graeme Jessup, Mona Vale
Ian Morison omitted one of the best female prime ministers – our own Julia Gillard (Letters, November 8). Her strength and negotiation skills were second to none. Ruth Pojer, Double Bay
Julia Gillard
A correspondent opines, “democracy relies upon an informed electorate to function effectively, an electorate that is willing and capable of being informed” (Letters, November 8).
Once again, as in Australia’s recent referendum, that’s stubborn bull-by-the-horns thinking, an assumption the electorate is too damn dopey to vote to the writer’s liking. Voters can be a little rough around the edges, but they do know what they damn well want, as recent clear-cut results demonstrate. Rosemary O’Brien, Ashfield
Ban is complex
Kate Halfpenny is right (“Kids’ social media ban might be just as tough on parents”, November 9). By taking away kids’ access to social media, we unleash a huge issue. What to replace it with? Those hours of scrolling and focusing on often hugely damaging social interplay will need to be filled with something else. And it’s not the 1950s. The ubiquitous internet will continue to shout silently in the corner, beckoning with its icy finger. (Some) parents know it’s the best thing to do for their kids’ wellbeing, but most are secretly sweating at the challenge. Time for a hard, courageous but imperative re-entry into the oft-forgotten guiding and mentoring roles of responsible parenthood for the benefit of us all, despite the inevitable backlash. Judy Finch, Taree
How sad that YouTube will be on the banned list for kids. So no child will be able to watch a YouTube video to learn how to paint shadows or repair their bicycle? Someone has dedicated zero time to this counter-productive decision. Jennifer Briggs, Kilaben Bay
Surely policing social media access for children under 16 is a parental responsibility. According to the government, at 15 years and 11 months, you’re at risk, but one month later you’re capable of managing the dangers. The social media giants aren’t going to roll over on this, and while the government is talking tough, they won’t be the ones having the conversation with the under 16s, many of whom won’t be happy. That said, this cohort is so tech-savvy they will have worked out a way to circumvent the system. Mike Kenneally, Manly
I have no issue with the proposed ban on social media for children under 16 but I would be far more comfortable if I saw our political leaders practising what they propose to preach. When our politicians can put their phones and devices away in the parliamentary chamber during question time, I should be a lot more comfortable with what they propose for others.
Dominic Hearne, Maroubra
Final words
On May 23, 2013, Column 8 mentioned a Herald death notice in which the deceased, a colleague and friend, was fondly remembered as “Personal Assistant to Lucy the Cat” (Letters, November 9) Edward Loong, Milsons Point
I have already prepared the wording for my eulogist: “At least they never went hungry.” Maggie Ramsay, Woolloomooloo
Less than merry
Where can I escape to in Australia for the next two months to avoid having to listen to those American Christmas songs, sugary, bland, un-Christmas like, as plastic as an eating booth in an all-night diner? Garrett Naumann, Cammeray
Mariah Carey performs during her holiday special “Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special” on Apple TV+.Credit: Apple TV+ via AP
Musk’s power all too clear now
It now seems any future war’s outcome will depend on a single person (“Embracing Trump”, November 9). That player owns the internet, guiding every drone and every bomb to every part of our planet with pinpoint accuracy. He owns the system for putting into orbit around our planet the 40,000 satellites that will control the internet.
He owns the technology for the next level of combat, which are fast-moving, bloodless robots guided by algorithms. He owns electric vehicle manufacturing facilities one kilometre long that can easily be turned into military application. Elon Musk is focusing on being the powerbroker in Donald Trump’s world with his companies Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink and even the Boring Company that may have its role, too, in efficient warfare. Rob Buchanan, Kerikeri (NZ)
As a US citizen, I’m sorry. We have nominated and voted in the worst American we could find to fill the office of the most powerful job we offer. As a dual citizen of the US and Australia, I can safely say that living here is winning.
I’m sorry from all of us who hoped for something better, more human, more like us. I was looking at the Obama administration from yesteryear, when there was joy, a genuine knowledge and respect of law and good judgment and where a smile came from a place of love and happiness. I hope we can find some smiles on the streets, in our kids, and not have to be consumed by the dread. Believe me when I say there are still many Americans around who didn’t want this. Darcy Weber, Hornsby
It hasn’t taken long for the world to glimpse what America will be like under Trump. This America will be champion of the oppressor rather than the oppressed, of the bully rather than the bullied. The Statue of Liberty’s lamp has gone out.
Lucy Burns, Mosman
Seeing Moir’s astute cartoon in this morning’s paper gave me some small hope over the possible despair over Trump’s election. Our clever cartoonists will be presented with a plethora of inspirations whenever he opens his mouth over the next four years. We will need them. Graeme Napier, Ashfield
Polls apart.Credit: Alan Moir
If we want to know how to protect our democracies from autocrats and extremists, and ultimately from destruction, we need to ensure the gulf between the haves and the have-nots is narrowing rather than widening, that health and welfare safety nets are strong and that people don’t feel disadvantaged by improvements in the lives of fellow citizens.
The best protection for any democracy is not, as is commonly said, education, but the quality of life of its citizens – for members to be living comfortable happy lives with the assurance that should things go wrong, they’ll be taken care of. That has never been the case in the US, and Trump’s victory is the logical outcome. It’s progressively less the case here, but it’s not too late to learn the lesson from the US experience. Prue Nelson, Cremorne Point
For all those concerned about Donald Trump’s victory, cast your minds back to 2019, when Boris Johnson led the British Conservative Party to a landslide victory. By the time the next election rolled around, everyone had figured out that he was a vacuous stooge and that his party’s policies were dubious to say the least, resulting in a landslide victory for the Labour Party. So don’t be disheartened. Trump will be as clueless as he was last time and the public will turn against him when they discover they are worse off after four years of his chaos. We just have to get through the next four years. Tom Orren, Wamberal Heights
The scariest thing about the Trump win is that if he dies in the next four years, JD Vance will be president.
Susan Haylock, Mosman
The Trump win has emphasised the gender divide. Males have shown by their vote that they can now not only think negatively towards women but that they can openly say and act out because this president has set the example, acknowledged and approved by 72 million Americans.
Judy Nicholas, Kambah (ACT)
Well done, United States, for your election first: you managed to pick the first felon for presidency before the first female. Trevor Somerville, Illawong
Five hundred years ago, Machiavelli, writing about the art of politics, said “men are so simple of mind and so much dominated by their immediate needs that a deceitful man will always find plenty who are ready to be deceived”.
Jim Pollitt, Wahroonga
I must say that the writing and acting in the last two seasons of The West Wing have really gone downhill. Peter Croft, Castle Hill
As former US presidents retain this honorific, should Donald Trump be known as Mr President, Mr President-elect or as I prefer, the accused. Vijay Randev, Stanwell Park
“NO TRUMPS!” Ah, the thrill of holding that hand in a card game of 500. Kathleen Hollins, Northmead
I understand that the Pentagon in its wisdom has just changed the secret nuclear code to: 2, 4, 6. What comes next? Thank heavens he will never get that. David Atherfold, Avalon Beach
Your correspondent’s concern about having to explain the rules of cricket to Americans who emigrate to Australia reminded me of the late actor Robin Williams who said that “cricket is baseball on Valium”. John Lees, Castlecrag
Thank the Romans
David Leser’s entertaining survey of the great unprintable word offers the theory that Germanic languages may have been its progenitors (“FFS! Why are we still so squeamish about the F word?”, November 9).
Latin is a strong contender. The Latin word facere, meaning to make or to do, was and still is pronounced with a hard-k sound, as in fah-keh-reh. In Latin you could say: ego plus quam feci facere non possum (I cannot do more than I have done). Romans were making and doing a lot in Britain for three and a half centuries. It’s tempting to think they left a short and sharp expletive for us to mull over two millennia later. Frank Canu, Lyons (ACT)
I am in total agreement with David Leser’s article and thank him for exposing our hypocrisy. I can attest to the feeling of relief when that word is verbalised loudly. Kathryn Lai, Heathcote
Recession should be measured through unemployment rather than GDP. Credit: Matt Davidson
Ready ore not
When I saw the headline, I thought Millie Muroi had discovered the truth about real GDP as an indicator of how well we’re doing (“GDP not the best instrument to measure health of our economy”, November 9). Sometimes, for instance, real GDP may expand because we’ve all been busy shovelling iron ore onto the boats to China. Real GDP does measure how much we produce but not necessarily how much we have made for ourselves, as real exports are included in that item. Put another way, we’re better off when high prices for exports, not their volume, allows us to put our shovels away and our feet up! Mike Bush, Port Macquarie
- To submit a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald, email letters@smh.com.au. Click here for tips on how to submit letters.
- The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform. Sign up here.