YOUR VIEWS

THE apathy genie in this country has once again been let loose on the voting public as it prepares to go to an election. An election that is being hijacked by special interest groups whose only interest is to gain power at the expense of a largely apathetic populace.

And at the end of the day, most mug punters will have once again been been taken by those whose only interest is to create greater wealth at the expense of those in the food chain. DALLAS FRASER, CURRUMBIN

FREE this and free that. The ALP is certainly promising to be free with other people’s money.

To achieve its aims, not only will a Labor government have to tax the taxpayers into poverty, but also money will have to grow on trees. GREG KATER, SANCTUARY COVE

BRAVO! Bravo! Bravo! Congratulations to all who so ably brought Verdi’s Requiem to the stunning HOTA amphitheatre as part of the 2019 Bleach Fest.

It was a fabulous night, with Mother Nature supporting the extravaganza as well by providing perfect weather.

I chose to take a beach chair and sit on the grassy slope but I think no matter where one sat, the view and accoustics were mind blowing. Thank you. Thank you. DONNA MROZ TURCIC, SOUTHPORT

THEY told us to stop eating meat, Or the skies would soon overheat. But the weather started snowing, And the blizzards started blowing, And soon there was no meat to eat. VIV FORBES, WASHPOOL

CR DAWN Crichlow is indulging in a right old tizz, not having been involved, so far, in private council talks over cost efficiencies across the Gold Coast.

One can only wildly speculate she hadn’t much of value to contribute, though one surely hopes this will not continue to be the case as the talks develop and reach fruition on such a weighty matter. DAVID HALL, COOMBABAH

THOSE who think that putting a bell on cats will prevent them from killing birds please think again it will reduce their killing but won’t completely stop it. ROD WATSON, SURFERS PARADISE

THERE are three basic ways to support and grow a business – increase your profit margin, reduce your overheads and increase your market share.

All three have potential and all three present challenges because in the process someone is affected.

The governing factor will always be what the market can bear.

The proposition of raising wages to meet the runaway cost of living is appealing but is it the solution? Are we chasing our tail by adopting this and pricing ourselves out of a global market?

We should be asking why the cost of living is so high and what we can do about it?

Our high cost of production has exported many of our manufacturing jobs overseas. The car manufacturing industry is a prime example.

We now import them along with the bulk of our electrical goods and homewares. Even a large proportion of our food comes from overseas.

Our export earnings rely on raw materials – iron, gas and coal along with agriculture, beef, sheep, wheat and wool to name a few.

In essence, the better part of our national earnings come from outside highly populated cities and yet those cities by way of their population hold the greatest political influence.

Energy, be it the fuel that powers our cars and machinery or the electricity for our homes and businesses. plays a major role in the cost of living.

I’m not going to argue the case of climate change here, especially with both sides of politics committed to renewable energy, but I will argue that we should not bite the hand that feeds us.

The world market is not a level playing field. China, India and the US will continue to use coal while

we bare our throats to be financially bled through the high, and as yet unrevealed, cost of a proposed 45 per cent reduction in CO2.

Bill Shorten’s answer when asked the cost of his scheme was: “We can’t afford not to”. Try that one on one of your clients, customers or friends.

Bob Brown and his cohorts took his anti-coal case to the country, to the people responsible for our major exports. He got his answer in spades, part delivered by horse no less, a much cheaper transport than an electric car.

Reducing our overhead by reducing unrealistic targets and slowly reducing our reliance on coal as renewables reach parity is looking better all the time. We could certainly afford that. BOB JANSSEN, GOLD COAST

THE pig-headed bully-boy arrogance of Prime Minister Morrison in (Monday) night’s supposed debate was breathtaking.

He could not enunciate any positive policy of his own, and preferred to talk over his opponent.

Surely Australians do not want this ignorant, bereft, policy free Prime Minister to remain in office.

We need a progressive government to finally institute policy to deal with the current dangerous climate change natural disasters we have seen recently in Australia.

The extended drought, the recent flood catastrophe in Townsville, heatwaves the length and breadth of this wide brown land, increased severity and frequency of cyclones, the list goes on.

It’s just not good enough to fiddle while Rome burns, and tell journalist that “there’s nothing to see here”.

This Abbott/Turnbull/Morrison scandal-ridden government needs to go. The PM has not had a go at solving any of the many problems that face this great nation. SHAUN NEWMAN, TOWNSVILLE