On the unraveling of the nation state

Richard Wylie writes: Re. “Rundle: Trump’s crusade against NFL part of a global unraveling“(Wednesday)

In a more limited way, I think the councils who have taken the lead on Australia Day celebrations, are in their own way starting a localised community based revolution in Australia. While many state and federal pollies like to ridicule councils as nothing more than garbage collectors, smart councils are recognising the opportunity to occupy the current leadership vacuum by being more relevant to their constituents than their State and Federal peers. In future, maybe Australia will only need two tiers if government… but perhaps it’s not councils that need to worry.

On Saudi Arabia’s ban on women driving

Cara MacNish writes: Re. “Saudi Arabia gets a PR win for entering the 19th century” (Wednesday)

Keane raises doubts about whether the proposed lifting of the traditional ban on women driving will be accepted. The solution, of course, is straightforward, as has recently been aptly demonstrated by an advanced western democracy. Just post a letter to every man, and ask him to send back his thoughts.

Should the men indeed decide to let women drive, I’m sure suitable safeguards could be put in place for mechanics, panel beaters and wheel balancers, exempting them from supplying to women should they have any objections.