Global laughing stock
AMERICA CRISIS
IN a relatively short period of time the President of the United States has legitimised, among others, the following values for his country: racism, bullying, ignorance, lying, infidelity, misogyny and egotism. I am no scholar of the US Constitution, but I doubt one would find any of these values articulated there. Further, my understanding of the Bible and its teachings would suggest they have no place in any civilised society, yet the evangelicals in the US are the President’s most strident supporters.
America has been on a slippery slope for some years now in claiming any moral authority or leadership in the world. Almost overnight, the current President has hastened the decline so that his country is becoming an international laughing stock, albeit a dangerous one. Australian political leaders need to carefully and quickly decide if they think we as a country can do things differently and better from that of our once great ally, or are we going to follow a similar path to ignominy.
Lickspittle
IN reply to the letter “History repeats” (Letters, July 19), comparing Trump to John Kennedy is risible. Despite his human foibles, Kennedy had character, intelligence, a sense of decorum, and was one of the best of American presidential speechmakers (“Ask not . . . ”). Most importantly, no one could accuse him of being Khrushchev’s lapdog or of having been elected with Khrushchev’s help. I suspect the content and tenor of his conversations with Khrushchev were very different from Trump’s as lickspittle to Putin. long-term counter-productive effect. Governments have a responsibility to manage technological transition, with the intrinsic inequality and division to be ameliorated with a vision that strengthens and encapsulates inclusiveness throughout the society.
Stay healthy
TOURISM going gangbusters, house prices stratospheric, business confidence higher than a randy CBD crane – just don’t get sick.
Visitors and hospitals
THE more visitors to our state, the less hospital beds available – or don’t they become ill or get injured?