We don’t think Trump is a wrecking ball, we know

France’s President Emmanuel Macron will meet Donald Trump in Washington in coming days (“A world of trouble”, February 22). If the media pack asks Macron if he thinks Trump’s continuing inflammatory statements about Ukraine and Russia are a threat to European peace and democracy, and wider global stability, there is really only one response he can give: “I don’t think – I know.” Patrick McGrath, Potts Point

“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. Trump et al have learned nothing in their attempts to appease evil at the expense of allies. The main difference between Neville Chamberlain and Trump is that Chamberlain never aspired to being Hitler. Edward Quinn, St Ives

International politics changed last week. The USA has turned its back on Ukraine and snubbed NATO. The modus operandi of the Trump maladministration appears to be: create chaos. Australia must reconsider its military alliance through ANZUS and the AUKUS deal. The taxpayers have forked out over $583.58 million to the French Naval Group as compensation for cancelling the French submarine project. The Labor government gave another $800 million of our money to the US government recently. That’s $1.383 billion so far, and we don’t have anything to show for it. How is that for strategic planning? In the next four years, we are scheduled to fork out over another $4 billion – and there will still be nothing to show for it, except a vague promise of some second-hand Virginia Class subs in the 2030s. This makes us the suckers from Down Under. Graham Cochrane, Balmain

It’s not often that a news article has me reaching for the dictionary, but “dirigisme” was a word I had not encountered before. While I can see that aspects of the modern European approach may be characterised as “state control of economic and social matters”, many of which conflict with Trump’s view of the market and social values, the alternative posed by Sir Alex Younger is a dictatorship, where a strong individual has economic and social control. The actions of President Trump in the opening days of his term demonstrate the intention to exercise exactly that control on both the United States and the world, moulding them to his vision. Vladimir Putin’s gambit in Ukraine to weaken NATO and isolate Europe has found the perfect ally as, once again, the strong men divide the spoils. Philip Cooney, Wentworth Falls

Trump and his government’s stance on the Russia/Ukraine conflict is worrying. Parallels can certainly be drawn between what is happening in Washington with what was happening in Berlin in the years before World War II. There are a dozen or so countries that border Russia, with Poland possibly in Putin’s sights. It seems that there is no coincidence at a time when the US is becoming more insular that we have Chinese warships off our coastline. Xi Jinping, like Trump and Putin, is a bully who is undoubtedly looking to expand China’s borders. Gone are the days when we could rely on our American allies to bail us out of trouble. We are entering a worrying time in history. Peter Miniutti, Ashbury

All reports coming out of the US since Trump’s convincing win in last year’s presidential election have convinced me that, far from making America great again, he is diminishing that greatness by the day. These latest lies from this powerful and increasingly unhinged man, mean that no democracy in the world can rely on the US ever providing assistance in the event of an invasion from a powerful dictatorship. That Americans put him in this position knowing that he had tried to overturn the election of Joe Biden indicates he will stop at nothing to hold on to power. Elizabeth Elenius, Pyrmont

That in just one week, Trump has drastically reshaped the international democratic order channels John F Kennedy’s valid caution that “the ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all”. Steve Ngeow, Chatswood

Could we get Abbott to shirtfront Trump? Phillip Foster, Orange

Australia in sights

Nick Bryant (“Trump abandons the free world”, February 22) poses the question: Is America still part of the West? It is doubtful that Trump would even frame it that way. In Trump’s world view, there is no East and West, there is only America versus the rest. Old loyalties – phooey. Traditional “friends” have taken America for a ride for too long. Trump is getting immense satisfaction from wrong-footing anyone slightly, exploiting every sign of weakness by any means at his disposal. Attack, threaten, lie, subvert on a multitude of fronts. The occasional strategic retreat. Chaos not merely for the sake of it, but an amoral grand plan to shake up the status quo. It’s a shotgun approach. He is confident opportunities will open up (specially in real estate) and MAGA will be ahead of the game. Equally troubling, perhaps, are the agendas of his chosen henchmen, many of whom are more astute and definitely more focused than Trump. Australia is along for the ride – we can’t lie low. We mustn’t confuse our own interests and self-respect with whatever is the current posturing of our powerful “ally”. But if every week is bringing a new, gobsmacking turn of events, should we beware the Ides of March. Margaret Johnston, Paddington

During the US presidential campaign, Trump promised to relieve Americans from cost-of-living pressures. His healthcare policy, he said, was a concept that would deliver the best, most affordable healthcare in the world. It appears the path to fulfilling these promises requires the sacking of park rangers, flight safety regulators, food and drug administrators and nuclear weapons monitors. Apparently, the fight against cost-of-living rises also requires giving tax cuts to the richest Americans and corporations. These tax cuts will, of course, go ahead, but the standard of living of most Americans will continue to decline under Trump’s maladministration. John Bailey, Canterbury

Nick Bryant’s examinations expose the new world foe that is Trump. Trump is against anyone or any country that does not bend the knee, or offer homage or servitude to him. His new possession, the country formerly known as the United States, is undergoing a makeover. Real estate deals have blossomed, but largesse from the US will from now on come at a price, as Ukraine is learning. Anyone who holds Putin up as a great man is either deranged or has a gun to his head. The Trump 2.0 experiment is doomed to fail and many countries will suffer, none more so than the US itself. Our turn will come. Geoff Nilon, Mascot

Steggall a pioneer

It’s just possible that economics correspondent Shane Wright (“The voters Albanese and Dutton must woo to swing the election”, February 22) assumes that Zali Steggall’s election victory in Warringah in 2022 was down to the 6381 female majority in the constituency. In fact, the significant number in his article’s chart is Steggall’s 9.6 per cent majority. At a 20,000-vote two-party majority, it was well above the preferences of women voters. Steggall was, of course, elected in 2019 when Tony Abbott was shown the door by Warringah. So Steggall’s majority, way ahead of first-time teals on the list, was down to her hard work in representing the electorate for three years, assisted by clear views on climate and integrity issues. Jeremy Eccles, Clifton Gardens

Is there a deity? Only God knows

Your correspondent (Letters, February 22) implies that there probably isn’t a god unless He fits the writer’s model of what God should be like. At the same time, another correspondent summarily does away with the idea of God’s existence by quoting a light-hearted comment from Clive James. Both might need to do a bit better than that before dismissing the vast amount of learned and popular Christian apologetic literature down the ages. They could start with Luke in the New Testament and come down to GK Chesterton, CS Lewis and beyond. David Morrison, Springwood

Your correspondent has hit on the Epicurean Paradox, developed by the Greek philosopher more than 2000 years ago. He proposed his ideas in response to the question about why an all-loving, all-knowing God allows suffering in the world. He said God is either oblivious (doesn’t know what’s happening), incompetent (does but can’t do anything about it), malevolent (can but chooses not to) or non-existent.
I’m going with the last option. David Farrell, Erskineville

I would say that in all religions at some time, it has been said “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and “love your neighbour as yourself”. Two simple sentences consisting of words of only one and two syllables each, yet Humankind does not and cannot understand. Imagine if we could. Kathy Willis, Kew

Your correspondent asks why God allows the continuation of death and destruction. I advise that he should read the apostle Paul on the subject. Apparently, without death and destruction, God is unable to demonstrate His mercy. Of course, Paul was writing in an era before nuclear arms and the potential for the destruction of everything. Garry Feeney, Kingsgrove

Unputdownable blurbs

Reading Julia Baird’s piece about the impending death of blurbs (“Last chapter for blurbs? Bring it on”, February 22), I was reminded of the first blurb I was asked to write in my earliest days working in the publishing industry. I was excited to be asked by a senior editor to write a blurb for a forthcoming book. The title of the book? Principles of Concrete Science. It was a real page-turner, a riveting read and a cliffhanger. Stuart Laurence, Cammeray

As an avid reader, I was a bit embarrassed to learn that what I had always believed were voluntary statements of praise for a new book were more often just solicited “blurbs” demanded by publishers. I’ve never been much influenced by blurbs anyway. A surprising number of the blurbers are names unfamiliar to me or authors whose own works failed to excite me, so they didn’t carry too much weight. I only hope that, like Baird, other publishers follow Simon and Schuster’s lead in no longer making blurbs compulsory. Meanwhile, I’ll continue to look for the objective, unsolicited thoughts of those reviewers whose opinions I have grown to respect over time. Col Nicholson, Hawks Nest

Unpaid labour is indeed real. Authors writing blurbs to sell each other’s books, teachers answering educational or parenting questions outside of school hours and horticulturists asked at a barbecue what plant would be right for someone’s garden patch. Ban the blurb and ban the “Can I just ask …?” to professionals who should be allowed to “turn off”. Lisa Williams, Dulwich Hill

I wonder if blurbs could help to get my letters published in the Herald? I have sought some contributions and received some good feedback: “Phil’s letters are thoughtful and inspiring” – Michele (Phil’s wife). “I think Phil’s letters are well balanced” – Albo. Phil Peak, Dubbo

Bank reservations

RBA governor Michele Bullock admits it was too late in raising interest rates as inflation began to surge (“Bank was too late hiking rates: Bullock”, February 22), which will be cold comfort to mortgage holders and small businesses who bore the brunt of the bank’s misreading of the economy. Following the cut in rates this week, the governor has been quick to pour cold water on expectations of further cuts in the near term, which begs the question: if the board misread the tightening cycle, will it not do the same when it comes to easings? Real wages are off their peak, CPI data has been on a clear downward trend for the past two years, real disposable income is flat and our GDP per capita recession now enters its second year. Sticking to the timetable outlined by the governor seems very fraught. Mike Kenneally, Manly

Don’t sweat cut

Savers with bank deposits should not be dismayed about a small reduction of their interest rate (“Why did profit-hungry big banks act so quickly to cut interest rates?” February 22). The important benefit for savers is the significant reduction of the rate of inflation. Rather than the purchasing power of their deposit being eroded by 7per cent per annum, the erosion rate is closer to 3 per cent. Geoff Harding, Chatswood

The latest interest rate cut shouldn’t be the catalyst to spend more: why do we need to keep spending on stuff we don’t need? It should help those with mortgages to manage the mortgage. For anyone else, it isn’t putting money in their pocket. Jenny Greenwood, Hunters Hill

We’re accustomed to banks being slow to drop interest rates but not so slow when lifting them. What’s their strategy as to who goes first when there’s a rate drop? Col Shephard, Yamba

Brought to heel

The most arty thing about Birkenstocks is the use of buckles to secure the straps instead of Velcro, which, if not fully covered, creates a sticky hazard (″⁣Sandals as ‘art’? The final verdict is in″⁣, February 22)
Joan Brown, Orange

Left in the park

I am not familiar with North Sydney or other councils’ ticketless parking systems. I ask, how does one pay for a parking spot if you don’t have a phone (“Plan to scrap hidden fees for parking”, February 22)? Allan Fozzard, St Ives

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