What now, Malcolm?

Richard Barlow writes: Re. “Is states raising income tax progressive or conservative? Yes.” (Friday). I wonder if Malcolm gathering his thoughts is like herding cats? Surely if we are going to attempt to better align the political economy of spending and taxing between different levels of government we could start with maybe a review of some kind, call a summit, explore some options, have a “national conversation” (shudder).  You could even start by announcing it somewhere serious like Parliament so it looked like a real policy proposal rather than at an impromptu media stop at a footy ground in a marginal seat. Turnbull reminds me of Robert Redford in The Candidate after he is unexpectedly elected asking, “What do I do now?”

The return of Abbott

John Richardson writes: “The one thing that can save Australia” (Friday). The only thing that saved me from choking on my coffee in despair as I read Crikey’s editorial on Friday, proposing the return of Tony Abbott to the Lodge, was to have the good fortune to know that it was published on April Fools’ Day.

Needless to say, the rest of Crikey’s prognostications on the future of our country under our current political leadership made for very dismal reading.

Whither the “Lucky Country”?

Lorraine Yudaeff writes: Jesus Crikey!

It’s been a long hard week and I just lost the plot on reading your introduction — swept screaming into a parallel universe.

Your trusting readers could have been seriously mentally damaged before realising it was April 1. Please show more consideration for people’s fragility, especially on Fridays when the sense of humour circuitry is a little slow to kick in.

I feel better now, I think.

Boycott Big Data

Philip Carman writes: Re. “Why you should boycott the census” (Thursday). I’m far more concerned about the private sector’s access to and desire to hold my personal information. Governments are at least to some extent accountable, whereas the private sector has zilch accountability to me, you or anyone else except a few shareholders …