Thanks to Trump, America is no longer the world’s greatest democracy

The world’s greatest democracy (“A wild ride to Trump all others”, August 3)? Endemic voter suppression, gerrymandering and the outdated and undemocratic Electoral College system are surely why the United States is considered a flawed democracy, 31st on the democracy indices list of 167 countries. By comparison Australia is in the group of full democracies, albeit 15th in the list. Try explaining compulsory voting, and the purpose and functioning of the Australian Electoral Commission to a citizen of the United States, let alone a Donald Trump supporter. Graham Cochrane, Balmain

The parallels with Hitler’s rise in Germany in the 1930s is stunning. The level of belief in the unbelievable among “ordinary Americans” is inconceivable to ordinary Australians. An extraordinary percentage of the American population, despite a total lack of factual evidence and over fifty failed legal challenges, believe that Trump won the 2020 election. Trump pumps the lie that he won the election at every rally and interview he does. He is now calling on Americans to rally in huge numbers to support him. And we’re worried about China? Kevin Farrell, Beelbangera

Certainly, something is very rotten in the state of America but to my mind, it is not Trump’s pursuit of political causes (Letters, August 3). Rather, it is the Democrats’ relentless persecution of the man, their political rival. As president, Trump had hoped to drain the swamp that the Washington DC establishment powerhouse has become. In that, he failed. Justice demands those in government charged with upholding the law avoid persecution and instead confine themselves to the prosecution of objectively reasonable allegations of wrongdoing. Sadly for democrats everywhere, the US Democrats are a long way out of bounds. Ross Drynan, Lindfield

The incisive observation of your correspondent that Trump remains a leading Republican candidate for the 2024 election reflects the appalling gullibility of the American people. That so many citizens of the USA could be taken in by the false fatuity of one candidate is more a sad reflection on the people than on Trump. The real loser here is the reputation of Americans. If the president of the USA is widely acknowledged as leader of the free world, it is time the entire free world had a direct say in the election of that individual. Americans can no longer be trusted to act responsibly. Brian Kidd, Mt Waverley (Vic)

Damned right, there is something rotten in the state of America, and it’s their education system. Unfortunately, we’ve been copying them for about 40 years now, so prepare yourself for a home-grown Trump complete with air-headed followers anytime soon. Ryszard Linkiewicz, Woolooware

In the 2020 US presidential election only five per cent of voters voted for Donald Trump in Washington DC (“A trial in the Democratic city where a riot turned deadly”, August 3). There is no way an unbiased jury can be found in the American capital. On this basis, does anyone seriously believe the former US president will receive a fair trial? Riley Brown, Bondi Beach

The only person who was trying to steal the 2020 US presidential election was Trump himself. Terry Vandyke, Dee Why

I suggest Trump’s lawyers request prepayment. Tim Schroder, Gordon

Minns set a good example by showing minister zero tolerance

Premier Chris Minns needs to be congratulated for setting high standards in public office and warning his ministers to act with integrity or their jobs are on the line (“Minns acted swiftly, but first ministerial casualty too soon”, August 3). Experience tells us that if ministers are behaving badly, there is chaos and their ambitions become more important than public duties. Ultimately, people in NSW suffer. There is no such thing as “too soon” to sack Tim Crakanthorp or any other minister who may have failed in discharging their duties with integrity. Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill

NSW Labor came to power promising a new wave of ethical conduct and is living up to its promise. When Minns became aware of Crakanthorp’s breach of the ministerial code, his response was swift and sharp. Voters couldn’t ask for more than that.

In the recent state and federal elections the Coalition paid a heavy price for its lack of integrity. When a Coalition MP is caught out, the default response is to stonewall. The federal Coalition is making the same mistake now by refusing to condemn Morrison’s involvement in the robo-debt scandal. That’s insulting to the electorate, and dumb politics. Graham Lum, North Rocks

In the throes of dealing with a housing crisis, a NSW minister discloses his “oversight” regarding his “significant breach” of ministerial code ( “Minns sacks cabinet minister over ‘conflict of interest’ on family holdings”, August 3). A believable oversight, or a case of conveniently turning a blind eye by Tim Crakenthorp? It’s hard to imagine owning multiple properties and forgetting to declare them. Even a seasoned Monopoly player couldn’t ever contemplate that slip. Premier Minns has acted precisely as the voters would have expected of him. Cleveland Rose, Dee Why

Minns’ swift action in sacking Crakenthorp from cabinet will be welcomed by all those in the community disturbed by the number of politicians with property portfolios. Nothing illegal, of course, for MPs and their families to dabble in investment properties – many do. But one problem is the perception that as property investors, MPs may be seen to be on the side of landlords against long-suffering, lowly paid renters continually impacted by spiralling rents. Too many politicians show a consistent reluctance to curb greedy landlords’ well-known excesses. Against this background, it’s good to hear renting and housing advocates say the Minns government is listening and committing to improving the grossly distorted rental system, and calling for submissions on how best to make it fairer. Nick Franklin, Katoomba

All too often it becomes apparent that the major parties are still operating in antiquated ways with out-of-date systems in terms of their internal operations and structures.

Crakanthorp has been a member of the ALP since 1993 and held several branch executive positions before being elected to the Newcastle City Council in 2008. He graduated to the Legislative Assembly in 2014 and was appointed as a minister in the Minns government when it was elected earlier this year. Such a lengthy political career provided the ALP with more than adequate opportunity to conduct robust due diligence to guarantee he was a suitable candidate for admission to the ministry.

It is incumbent upon the ALP, and other parties, to strengthen and tidy up their screening procedures to ensure electors are not continually presented with examples of politicians behaving badly.Ross Butler, Rodd Point

Residents of the Bankstown line to get inferior transport

Sydney Metro Southwest construction will mean that there will be an extra 100 extra buses on the busy Sydney road system each day; that a train journey of 33 mins will take over an hour on a bus on a good day; that disruption will take over a year, which is optimistic considering how long the other metro rail projects have taken (“Why the T3 transition will test timetables and patience”, August 3). Why take down a very efficient T3 line to put in a Metro line?
I lived in the Bankstown line in the 60s and 70s and I could travel to the city via Bankstown or Lidcombe. I could change at Lidcombe to travel to Parramatta and I could also travel to Liverpool.
The T3 is an efficient mode of travel that is heavily utilised, that will be dismantled for a Metro line that will be an inferior mode of transport for the residents of the south-west.Helen Simpson, Curl Curl

I’m surprised Transport Minister Jo Haylen isn’t working to improve micromobility options for communities along the Bankstown line ahead of its 12-month shutdown. The trip between Canterbury and the CBD currently takes about 50 minutes by e-bike via the Cooks River and other paths. With some realignment and path/intersection upgrades costing less than 0.1 per cent of the cost of the $20billion Metro project, the travel time could be brought down closer to 30 minutes. Not only is this much quicker than the bus, but zipping along the leafy, peaceful Cooks River on an e-bike or e-scooter is a much nicer and healthier way to start/end the day than sitting in stop-start traffic. Christopher Standen, Erskineville

Armchair generals

Anthony Bergin’s piece is yet another salvo from the armchair generals in their desire to militarise Australia (“We need a national citizens’ militia”, August 3). Let’s stick to facts. We have no valid role or strategic interest in the NATO v Russia proxy war in Ukraine. Our economic interest lies in a peaceful Asian region and good relations with China. If the US in its pivot to Asia wants to confront China, then, Australia does not need to and should not get involved. Suggestions that border on reintroducing conscription will only serve to further militarise society and potentially put the lives of our young women and men at risk. Paul Pearce, Bronte

I disagree with Bergin’s use of the term militia as the term itself refers to a separation from our existing military forces. By all means, introduce a national service similar to the one abandoned in 1957 but it must form part of our education structure with an age limit of 25. Frank Tweedie, Morpeth

Positive housing

Those criticising an apparent exemption of the City of Sydney from incoming density requirements might do well to apply some Bayesian reasoning – what is the base situation (“Premier queried over city exemption”, August 3)? The City of Sydney and former South Sydney have taken a positive approach to housing densities for decades. For example, the City of Sydney applies maximum, not minimum, car parking rates to residential development. This allows residential development to occur on smaller sites without having to adopt the scale necessary for basement car parking.

Inner West Council, in contrast, continues to apply minimum car parking rates as a barrier to the creation of additional housing. Perhaps the people of Sydney can start to take a less transactional approach and can approach the creation of new housing in a positive way. Matthew Bartinel, Killara

Hopes dashed

I’m with Ross Gittins: the older I get, the more I know we’ve mucked up (“Legacy: climate, rent, crappy job”, August 2). Our belief that our kids would do better than us has been dashed. With our rampant consumption, we have decimated the base of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, jeopardising our children’s air, water, food and shelter. It seems we’ve failed in our duty of care to all children. David Pocock’s call this week for a duty of care in Australian law that would require governments to consider the impact of climate harm on young people is welcomed. This is something all parents can get behind. Karen Campbell, Geelong

Happy kids

“Happy kids are well managed kids, and well managed kids are happy kids” was the glib maxim of the dean of education at the University of Sydney in the mid-1980s (Letters, August 3). Nothing in my 36 years studying education, teaching, or in teacher education, ever challenged his little summary of his own decades of research and experience. It applies for teachers and parents alike. Peter Russell, Coogee

How readers can conflate selective schools and opportunity classes with the rise of narcissism in students is baffling. As a mother of students in selective schools, what struck me was the kindness, empathy and support by other students at these schools. When my daughter started high school she absolutely loved it as she had never met so many nice people. The principal told me that she rarely deals with behavioural problems. The students are there because they love to learn not because of any sense of superiority. Niki Zmak, Maroubra

Parents may not help in setting respectful boundaries for their children attending school. However, one of the worst scourges in schools is the student’s own device such as laptops. Students are often gaming in class or distracted on the internet and talking among themselves. The distractions are such that my partner comes home feeling completely disrespected and exhausted from trying to manage classroom behaviour. He is a first year teacher. Padd Fitzgerald, Cabarita

Who’s responsible?

Those who support the legalisation of cocaine miss one vital point (Letters, August 3). When the masses of people who ended up addicted to OxyContin sought recompense they, quite reasonably, took legal action against the company - essentially sending it broke - and the doctors who prescribed it. Who, pray tell, will put their name to the bags of legalised cocaine powder and take responsibility for the inevitable deaths and adverse effects that will accompany its use? Perhaps a government health warning such as “Snort at your own risk” might help, but it won’t stop the lawyers. Ross MacPherson, Seaforth

Bad experience

Sorry, Greg Vale, but going to the cinema to enjoy an “uninterrupted journey through a worthwhile film” can also be a “never again” experience (Letters, August 3). The first irritation will be the inevitable bag-rustling of the chip munchers, then in will come the late arrival chatterers who invariably find your tucked-in toes as they each push past. Meanwhile, someone three rows back has already started their monologue telling grandma the storyline because she is hard of hearing even though the sound system will, of course, be turned up to sonic-boom level. The last straw in this expensive journey is when the tall over-sized body in the next row changes places with his short companion and plonks himself directly in front of you. Give me home comforts every time. Ellie Hallett, Toowoomba (Qld)

Well read

Someone at the Opera House must read the letters pages (Letters, August 3). On Wednesday night the “petals” in the concert hall were raised high enough to see the organist, if not the whole organ. Donald Hawes, Peel

Setting an example

As a Canadian, I don’t take sports as seriously as some (Letters, August 3). All I saw of the Matildas’ recent victory over Canada’s women’s team was a photo of Caitlin Foord consoling two very upset Canadian players at the end of the game. That’s something I’m not used to seeing. In future, if any Canadian player shows even half the grace that Foord did, I would be proud. I don’t believe her empathetic gesture in any way diminished Australia’s win. If anything, it underscored it. Congratulations Australia and congratulations Caitlin Foord. James Mahony, Calgary (Canada)

Your correspondent asks why the Matildas aren’t referred to, in the media, as role models for boys and men. I don’t think the media has caught on that boys have realised for themselves what wonderful role models the Matildas are with many now wanting to be their favourite Matilda when they are playing soccer and often refer to the Socceroos as the boy Matildas. Kids know. Merilyn McClung, Forestville

I don’t know which matches your correspondent has been watching but the few times I have caught glimpses of the football, the diving and faking has been on show for all to witness. The skills shown have, however, amazed me. Phillip Reeves, Armidale

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