MEDIA reports of anger in England and France regarding more intemperate moralising by US President Donald Trump, telling them that more guns in the hands of their citizenry would stop terrorists and others committing murder. Given reports more than 1.53 million Americans have died by gun violence since 1968, more than the total of all Americans killed on all battlefields in all wars between 1775 and 2017 (1.20 million) Trump would serve humanity infinitely better by acting to mitigate the 30,000-plus annual gun deaths in his own country.
John Jenkins, Charlestown
A MAN in a wheelchair asked me if I could help him today. He worked until cancer took his leg. He has no family to support him. After paying rent and the cost of his medications he had no money for food. He was so embarrassed. So was I. Not for him but for our country that has created so many poor Australians who are struggling to survive. We had a chat.
Ann Ellis, Merewether
WELL what a great budget. Certainly a lot better than nothing. Hold on, what are we going to get this year?
Colin Fordham, Lambton
I THINK Malcolm Turnbull should be in the Labor Party, because he knows more about what they’re doing than what's going in his own party.
Craig Budden, Hamilton
THOSE calling for more money for Newstart should consider the large percentage of recipients who don't start or won’t start due to generational welfare being seen as a lifestyle entitlement. No cash payments anymore. Time for a cashless welfare card for the bludgers.
Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay
WHICH is which? Two senior politicians, one here, the other in a faraway land; both making headlines all over Australia today. If, when these jokers are relieved of their current respective, both lofty, positions, (as many pray they will) one of them – he's perfected the 'art' of the hundred-mile-an-hour spiel – will have no trouble finding work as a used car salesman; the other shows considerable promise as a ham actor: he makes any text sound lame and cornball.
Suzanne Russell, Rivett
HEY, Brad Hill (Short Takes, 10/5): luck means “blowing in the wind” mate. Like, where's the motser from Australia's biggest mining boom ever, 10 years back? Not asking the going price for our mineral wealth means luck left us nothing to bank, and light on for infrastructure. The real spoilers are our “governments”. Everyone's now chattering about another dyed-in-the-wool political budget.
Graeme Tychsen, Rankin Park
THE POLLS
DO you think there should be time limits placed on street parking in some parts of Maryville?
Yes 49.04%, No 50.96%
DO you agree with the decision to build a sand quarry near Williamtown?
