Do you hear the people sing?

John Falconer writes: Re. “When Greg Hywood manned the barricades” (yesterday). Like a lot of people, I do not like seeing decent journalists lose their jobs. God save us from the likes of the Daily Mail! But give Fairfax’s Greg Hywood a break. So, 35 years ago he supported a strike against computers (VDUs or video display units)! Goodness me, 44 ago, and again 42 years ago, I voted for Gough Whitlam!

Cold comfort

John Richardson writes: Re. “Corporate tax cuts – great for big business, terrible for voter support” (yesterday). So, Cabinet secretary and spruiker for the big end of town Arthur Sinodinos reckons that more than half the benefit of a significant cut to the corporate tax rate would ultimately flow to workers through higher wages. While some might salivate at the prospect of tasting the senator’s “magic pudding”, others who work for the 60% of companies that pay no income tax will recognise that half of nothing is still nothing. That the prime minister’s promise to deliver taxes that are “lower, simpler and fairer” while rescuing the nation’s finances has been reduced to a pea and thimble trick, clearly demonstrates that the emperor not only has no clothes, but no idea as well.

On Safe Schools

Samantha Chung writes: Re. “Bullied kids sacrificed to conservative right, The Australian” (yesterday). The conservatives alleged that discussing sexuality openly and within a group context was deemed to facilitate the “grooming” of children. Unnecessarily placing vulnerable children in opaque settings and requiring them to disclose their sexuality just to obtain resources places them at risk for two reasons: 1. it maximises power differentials; 2. it indicates to them that their bodies and sexuality are something to be ashamed of. These changes will create the perfect storm of conditions that enables and perpetuates abuse. The government has allowed sexual abuse survivors to be exploited to place other children at risk, in order to avoid an imaginary one!

Hand over the passcode, young lady

Michael James writes: Re. “Department of Australia” (yesterday). Today’s Department of Australia satire was laugh out loud funny. Long may Stinkerbell rule.