Letter of the Week

Have strong opinions, write in an engaging way?

You could win our Letter of the Week, and with it a book from our friends and sponsors, the publishers Harper Collins. This month’s book prize is Return to

Rosalee Station. Bestselling Australian author Mandy

Magro returns to the world of her debut novel, Rosalee

Station, with a tragic and harrowing story of love and second chances. After eight years of marriage, Sarah and Matt are dealt a cruel blow with a fatal accident. Can they find the path to forgiveness and healing, or will grief keep them apart forever?

I AM worried the Christmas Grinch has struck at the Runaway Bay Shopping Centre.

I can see no decorations in the main mall and what is on display at the Big W end is sad. The carols struggled to be heard and I think could be turned up.

When I spoke to centre management, they were unmoved.

One can only wonder why? I would hate to think centre management is pandering to minorities, but if that’s not the case, I think they could do better.

At least the kids can visit Santa at the Big W, and some of the shops have taken matters into their own hands with their efforts to reflect this joyous season.

I’m sure there are other centres that put on a better show of Christmas cheer and that’s where I’d prefer to shop. GEOFF HALL BIGGERA WATERS

THE connection between being an adherent for stopping manmade climate change and socialism is very fragile.

As so-called socialists have widely different views on politics and economics, the only connection could be that the socialists think for themselves and don’t just follow “right wing” propaganda.

“Right wing” is here defined as holding a conservative opinion on climate change.

Certainly, China is still building coal-fired power stations but it is also investing heavily in alternative energy sources and nuclear.

Saudi Arabia is also investing in alternative energy because 1) they know they need a source of income and energy once the oil runs out, and 2) they can make more money selling it to us dolts than putting it

in their gas guzzling limousines.

Australia is positioned entirely within tropical and sub-tropical latitudes and is sparsely populated.

It is one of the most advanced economies in the world. Two thirds of the continent are desert. So if we can’t produce all our energy from wind and solar, what hope has Russia or the US got? ED DONOVAN LABRADOR

I CANNOT help but notice that negativity interspersed with spin doctoring is rife.

From the spin doctor side you have a champion of turning a negative into a positive, Mark Bailey, the Main Roads Minister.

I cannot believe the increase in passengers on the southern bus routes is down to popularity, rather it is the calamity that is the M1 and the knock-on effect it has on any parallel road network such as the Gold Coast Highway.

The road network is a complete

and utter mess caused by successive governments’ failure to act.

There are those who will argue the bus network uses the roads network as well, but the passengers no doubt simply wish to retain what little sanity they have from daily commuting in private vehicles.

I am an advocate for the light rail, but please Mr Bailey, do not insult my intelligence by taking outrageous liberties with the truth. BARRY CUMMINGS CARRARA

MR and Mrs Mankind lived in a large house with their child named Common Sense.

They lived quite happily together for many years, then one day they decided Common Sense should have a sibling and had another child whom they named Radical. Radical displayed a mean streak and opposed everything Mr and Mrs Mankind proposed.

So Mr and Mrs Mankind decided to have another child whom they named Pacifist hoping Radical would become more family orientated. Much to their dismay Radical became worse.

So they had another child they named Indifference thinking that Radical might take pity on him.

Radical then became extremely violent to Indifference and took advantage of him.

After many years of family upset Mr and Mrs Mankind decided to take Common Sense and move out.

Mr and Mrs Mankind are now waiting for Radical, Indifference and Pacifist to ask their parents to return and restore order again. NICK BELLOFF SOUTHPORT

AN inquest is not an inquest until all parties have been scrutinised, especially the so-called bosses.

Obviously compliance and regulatory checks at Dreamworld were bypassed over many years, most probably to achieve financial targets. Now that has resulted in four innocent deaths and a financial nightmare.

Accountability appears to be the loser, aside from the victims and their families. NICK ISRAEL BENOWA

THERE’S only one way to deal with illegal parkers blocking driveways and that’s to have continual blitzes. (GCB Dec. 7).

A fleet of tow trucks travelling with Council officers would clear access for residents and would really irk offenders.

But it must be ongoing.

The whole situation is a sad indictment on the lack of consideration people have for others. KEN JOHNSTON ROCHEDALE SOUTH

Rules: Best letter competition runs until January 19 next year. Entries close each Thursday at 5pm. The winner is selected by 2pm each Friday. Book of the month valued up to $49. Entrants agree to the Competition Terms and Conditions located at www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/ entertainment/competitions, and our privacy policy. Entrants consent to their information being shared with HarperCollins for the express purpose of delivering prizes.