It’s not solely e-scooter riders who really feel the ache

Darker instances
As a retired librarian, I can solely hope that the council shouldn’t be following the worrying pattern in the USA the place municipal libraries are being closed, proscribing the general public’s’ proper
to learn.
This “quiet censorship” was spoken about not too long ago by Tracie Corridor, a earlier government director of the American Libraries Associations, on the State Library of Victoria. She warned that the closures had been a precursor to darker instances through which ebook banning was changing into a central civil rights subject.
Meg Paul, Camberwell

Clean course of
It would definitely be “faster and simpler to browse books” within the Metropolis Library if most or all of them are thrown out. How this resolution will have an effect on the town’s fame as a metropolis of literature is one other query.
Lindsay Zoch, Mildura

Combined strategies
In response to the Grattan Institute’s requires “studying revolution”, I’ve one key concern. Having been a trainer for 35 years, later specialising in educating youngsters with difficulties in literacy, I’ve noticed {that a} mixed strategy of phonics plus entire language works greatest.
I’ve seen youngsters who can decode phrases and “learn” however then can’t even reply probably the most fundamental questions on what they’ve simply learn. Higher trainer coaching and express, properly deliberate instruction is the important thing.
Jane Needham, Templestowe

Below menace
Donald Trump’s suggestion, that he would permit Russia to assault “delinquent” American army allies, is deeply regarding.
NATO Article 5 is a cornerstone of the alliance amongst allies, together with the USA, stating that an assault on any of them will end in all member states coming to assist of the nation below menace.
The irony is that in its 75-plus years of operation, Article 5 has solely ever been invoked as soon as, on September 12, 2001, the day after the US was subjected to terrorist assaults. If solely Trump had paid consideration to historical past.
James Younger, Mt Eliza

Putin propaganda
Peter FitzSimons (“Trump, Putin and a Sydney ‘love-child’ … I’d chat to Oliver Stone on any given Sunday”, 11/2) ought to apologise to the hundreds of useless, tortured, jailed and bereaved who’re victims of Vladimir Putin’s dictatorship and invasion of Ukraine.
Fitzsimons offers area to the anti-democratic propagandist Stone and his lies about Putin’s invasion, responding, “We will speak about this one for 3 hours, and I’d like to”, as if Stone is telling an anecdote a few go to to scenic landmarks. The folks of Ukraine revolted towards a Putin puppet authorities they hated, not the opposite means spherical as Stone claims.
Brett Byrne, Melbourne

Give attention to welfare
Victorian Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie mentioned on 9’s Immediately program that the “incident” involving Barnaby Joyce (“Barnaby Joyce’s place on shadow frontbench in query after video”, 12/1) was “about getting Barnaby again to work, specializing in his welfare, ensuring he can handle the medicine appropriately”.
It’s a pity that her Victorian colleagues, and the state Liberals, didn’t take such an enlightened strategy in 2021 after they voted towards Andrews authorities legal guidelines that decriminalised public drunkenness in public.
Paul Kennelly, Caulfield North

Public behaviour
Your correspondent (Letters, 12/2) has misplaced sympathy for Malcolm Turnbull’s feedback about Barnaby Joyce’s “personal life”. On the time, he was carrying on an affair with a employees member, whose wages had been paid for by the folks of Australia. That’s not personal. In any organisation, this might be recognised as not on.
Mendacity on the bottom in full public view, after one too many whatevers, and shouting obscenities into your telephone could also be a superb look on Survivor, however not for a former deputy prime minister.
Carmel Boyle, Alfredton

Impressed resolution
Thank goodness for Ross Gittins. His column (“Let’s cease utilizing charges to throttle mortgage holders”, 12/2) must be obligatory studying for our federal politicians.
Like him, I bear in mind a time when there have been a number of alternate options to dampen or stimulate demand, not simply the blunt instrument of rates of interest, that may imply a disproportionate burden for these with a mortgage, primarily youthful people.
In fact, these alternate options revolved round taxation ranges and difficult the conservative line that ranges of taxation ought to all the time pattern downwards.
The thought supported by Gittins – the versatile use of the worker superannuation contributions to strategically handle combination demand – would imply the federal government of the day might make crucial changes with out being accused of accelerating the dimensions of presidency.
It’s an impressed strategy that may imply sustainably decrease rates of interest, and absolutely a extra affluent society.
Peter Salway, Beaumaris

Embracing later years
Shona Hendley writes: “There’s a easy fact that many people appear to withstand: dwelling too lengthy can also be a loss” (“I don’t truly wish to dwell endlessly, actually”, 12/2).
Loneliness and isolation (the share of Australians dwelling alone is rising) and poor-quality aged care, primarily healthcare rationing for the very aged which hastens the progress of terminal decline, slightly than aiming for and facilitating enablement and delight of life within the face of incapacity, are the 2 important the explanation why there’s typically little worth attributed to embracing life in very outdated age.
The aged care royal fee’s report indicated that there is no such thing as a motive why the final stage of our lifespan shouldn’t maintain as a lot which means and promise as all levels prior.
Hendley illustrates how a nation’s strategy to its aged, whether or not destructive as in Australia, or constructive as in different cultures, filters right down to have an effect on the way of living of people who find themselves youthful.
Ruth Farr, Blackburn South

Nonetheless rocking
Pete Townshend was 21 when he wrote that he hoped he’d die earlier than he obtained outdated. Curiously, he didn’t say simply how outdated that was. That was virtually 60 years in the past, but Townshend remains to be alive and launched an album with fellow Who member, Roger Daltrey, in 2019.
Presumably, Townshend modified his thoughts, or perhaps what he meant was that he hoped he’d die earlier than he obtained actually outdated, no matter meaning now.
Rod Sensible, Surrey Hills

Resting place
All hail to Shona Hendley who doesn’t wish to dwell endlessly. So younger, so clever.
Many people bear in mind the scene in Soylent Inexperienced the place Charlton Heston’s ageing father takes himself to a spot the place he’s greeted by angelic younger folks, escorted to a room, requested to decide on his music and movies (Beethoven and pastoral scenes), then gently helped to depart his life. (The truth that he’ll then change into a protein capsule shouldn’t be related right here.)
Anne Riddell, Mornington

Satisfying alternate options
How might AACTA/AFI get the Finest Movie class so unsuitable? The finalists, out of 40 that entered, ought to have been True Spirit, The Price, Of an Age, Poker Face and Critically Crimson, for my part, having watched all 40.
In the long run, solely Of an Age made the checklist. Movies are alleged to entertain us, not lecture us, and may have an effect on all our feelings to achieve success and loved total. I significantly suppose that AACTA/AFI is in peril of changing into irrelevant if the most effective films of the yr are usually not the finalists.
I’ve been a member of the AFI for over 40 years and have seen many good movies achieve success each on the field workplace and on the awards. I solely hope that we maintain encouraging the making of movies to entertain and educate us.
Jason Ronald, Tallarook

Brutal sport
Your correspondent (Letters, 12/1) was essential of Sarah Ferguson commencing an interview with Opposition Chief Peter Dutton on ABC’s 7.30 program by asking him: “Was it humiliating so that you can have to face up and assist Labor’s adjustments to the tax cuts?”
Such a line of questioning is, nevertheless, not new. On the exact same program in 1983, Richard Carleton’s opening query to Bob Hawke on changing into ALP chief was whether or not he was feeling “a bit of embarrassed tonight on the blood that’s in your palms”.
Proof that politics has all the time been a blood sport.
Garry Meller, Bentleigh

AND ANOTHER THING

Federal politics
The Nemesis sequence on ABC TV is splitting the viewers: those that are revolted and stroll away, and those that grasp in there to witness how disgusting politicking is. The general miserable impression is of simply how a lot our taxes are spent on sizzling air slightly than constructive work within the curiosity of the nation.
Martin Hengeveld, Analysis

David Littleproud has pushed the Nationals to date to the precise on local weather that Barnaby Joyce fell off.
Greg Curtin, Nunawading

Is Barnaby Joyce’s place on the pavement only a fall-back place?
Kathryn Bond, Glen Iris

Who in Australia has by no means made a telephone name whereas mendacity down?
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill

We have now clearly heard Angus Taylor say a brand new Coalition authorities would cut back revenue taxes. Will he additionally clearly state which authorities companies they plan to scale back?
Peter Hartley, Balwyn North

Nuclear energy is straightforward – simply construct the reactor in Dutton’s voters and the poisonous waste dump in Littleproud’s voters.
John Johnson, Richmond

Ageing
Shona Hendley writes “I’m not going to dwell endlessly. And regardless of society attempting to persuade me in any other case, I merely don’t wish to.” Maybe the phrases of Jonathan Swift are apt: “Each man needs to dwell lengthy, however no man needs to be outdated”.
Joe Wilder, Caulfield North

I wager Dr Emanuel wasn’t 73 – like me – when he mentioned he hoped to die at 75. I’m not fretting about my diets, merchandise or habits. I simply wish to take pleasure in my life and make a contribution to society for so long as I can. At 75, and preventing again towards most cancers, I’m positive King Charles would agree.
Ivan Glynn, Vermont

Moreover
Prompt title change: ER-scooters.
Paul Custance, Highett

The image of individuals on St Kilda seashore (The Age, 12/2) sadly exhibits the message of the dangers of pores and skin most cancers has did not get via.
Mary Fenelon, Doncaster East

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