Your Say: Are we just like Trump’s America?

This week political editor Bernard Keane was fired up about Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s number one value — and so were our readers, if our inbox is anything to go by. You have also shared your views on Saturday’s election in Queensland and virtual annual general meetings.

On putting mates first:

Judy Hardy-Holden writes: What a distressing, depressing read. Sometimes I tuck it away in the back of my  mind, but really you can’t ignore such lack of integrity. It gnaws at and undermines your sense of well-being.

We look at Trumpian America and thank God we are not like that … but we are. America is imploding on its arrogance, lack of integrity and open justice, huge inequality in social and economic outcomes, corruption of public institutions. The train wreck has been a long time in the making and we are following along the same tracks.

How has such greed and entitlement festered in the political class? They taint our public welfare and reduce its capacity to support us all.

I cry for my country, I really do — my country I used to be proud of.

I am too old to do anything, and I can only rely on the good people who care, who are just, compassionate, articulate and active in the public arena.

Ros Buzza writes: Corrupt politicians and their profitable relationships with “mates” is not a new reality. What is new is that many of these activities are now conducted in plain sight.

When some Australian citizens eventually decide the only way to clean out the stables is some targeted militant action we are all losers. History is littered with such examples. In my family tree is a man who joined the Pennsylvania militia and fought against the English in the American revolutionary war, now known as the American war of independence. Will Australia have to endure similar suffering to get rid of our home-grown parasites? I hope not (and I know “hope” is not a strategy).

Rob Stewart writes: What is my biggest concern? To get away with the rorts and scandals means that many look the other way. Why do they look the other way? Because they also stand to benefit from government largesse. So to call the bad behaviour out would hurt your own chances because you may have been next in line.

Anyway, if the government is paying, it couldn’t be wrong, could it?

On the Queensland election:

Ray Howson writes: Madonna King will be well versed to have a critical look at the “policies” put forward by the Liberal National Party.

An unfunded major road and a return to a 1930s inland water diversion scheme hardly inspires voters to consider the LNP a viable option.

Most Queenslanders remember the Newman debacle, and the backroom brawl that erupted in July when moves were afoot to remove its leader Deb Frecklington.

An unstable opposition at war with itself does not foster much trust in its ability to govern. It deserves another four years in the wilderness, allowing Labor to get on with it, notwithstanding attempts by the Murdoch press to convince Queenslanders to do the opposite.

Annastacia Palaszczuk has seen Queensland through in the face of constant bullying from the alleged PM. On that basis alone she deserves to be reelected with an increased majority.

David Bernard writes: Palaszczuk played the political game with the border when she didn’t need to keep it closed. She criticises other states for the number of cases they’ve had but forgets to remind the public that most Australians returning from overseas disembarked in Sydney and Melbourne, putting their states at greater risk. These people had to quarantine in those states before being allowed back into their home state of Queensland.

Palaszczuk has had more scandals in her government than any other Queensland premier and deserves to be booted out.

On virtual AGMs:

Chris Elenor writes: My recent experience as a member or board member on three community organisations (in the disability advocacy, community orchestra and political organisation spaces) is that Zoom AGMs — if carefully and properly organised (with one voice one vote and one device for each member in good standing) and using the preregistration, document share, chat and polling functions — has led to larger attendances and greater participation in democratic AGMs than was achieved pre-COVID.

Members in each of these organisations have appreciated the opportunities to easily and safely participate in these critical AGMs, to understand how their organisations have pivoted through 2020, and to work a path through to the new COVID normal.

Let us know your thoughts by writing to letters@crikey.com.au. Please include your full name to be considered for publication in Crikey’s Your Say column.