The IPA blues

Peter Matters writes: Re. “Tony Abbott talks God and Western values behind closed doors” (Friday). The Institute of Public Affairs likes to call itself a conservative organisation. According to my dictionary, the correct title would be “a reactionary organisation”, i.e., a organisation that will unconditionally resist  any change whatever. The same description applies to the great majority of attendees. The drover’s dog can tell you radical changes are needed to save the planet form destruction by global warming and pollution of land, sea and air.

The Leader of the Opposition, his distinguished friend, the cardinal and most of their friends are prepared to deny the threats facing us all. If the Opposition Leader becomes prime minister on September 14, the damage to Australia will be incomparably greater than achieved by any other prime Minister.

Terry Mills writes: Why is it that whenever I hear a speech by Tony Abbott that I immediately think of Winston Churchill’s observation about Clement Atlee [paraphrased by Jerry Seinfeld about Newman]? “There’s less to him than meets the eye.”

How to solve a problem like Korea

Alan McPhate writes: Re. “Rundle: is North Korea on the warpath, or is it a ruse? Yes.” (Thursday). May I offer an alternative program rather than repeatedly increasing the pressure on North Korea to change its policy of threatening the United States and South Korea. The program of increasing the sanctions by all nations has not worked — so we  continue to escalate pressure. The suggestion made by Roger Cavazos and Peter Hayes: “The only way to find out North Korea’s intentions is to talk” (April 4 at the Nautilus Institute at RMIT University, Melbourne).

The proposal is that the United States and South Korea hold off increasing economic and military pressure and start to negotiate a permanent peace treaty with North Korea. This proposal was outlined by John Delury, assistant professor of East Asian Studies at Yonsei University’s Graduate School of International Studies on Lateline on April 1. The present policy of the Allies is increasing tension with no indication of resolution.