Letters to the editor and short takes Thursday December 31 2020

I confirmed that our PM did, in my opinion, congratulate himself on how the community cared for the aged, particularly in care homes. I then had to go to the bathroom to throw up.

Being a 91-year-old I have followed the details of the Royal Royal Commission into Aged Care as it revealed the catalogue of abuse and neglect that was allowed under the PM's watch. However, the cruellest revelations that the royal commission recorded were that this PM and his useless minister failed to plan any protection for the aged from the pandemic. In my opinion this neglect resulted in some 665 unnecessary and lonely deaths of aged in care, but in his message he made no reference to this neglect.

It appears to me that the PM is expecting that, with the vaccine, the public will think the problem of aged care is solved. When he gets the final report from the royal commission he can continue his current neglect after his usual promise to act. As a future user of aged care, 2021 has no reason for me and my fellow aged to look forward to a happy New Year.

IT'S that time of year again, when fireworks light up our skies and PETA renews our calls to councils all over the country to switch to silent shows. Until then, you can help us keep animals safe. You see, to dogs, cats, and other animals, New Year's Eve may seem more like The War of the Worlds than a celebration. Noisy fireworks are frightening to animals, who don't realise that the explosions are meant to be entertaining and aren't a sign of danger.

After fireworks displays, animal shelters report an increased number of lost animal companions. Many of these animals panicked and ran away from their guardians, and some may even have jumped through closed windows to get away from the terrifying sounds. Lucky animals are reunited with their families but others aren't, and some sustain serious injuries or even die from their attempts to escape from the noise. Many dogs and other animals arrive at shelters or veterinary clinics with their paws bloody from running, their skin scraped by tearing through gaps in wooden fences, and injuries sustained after dashing into roads and being hit by vehicles.

Keep cats and dogs indoors during fireworks displays, and if possible, stay with them. Leave your animals at home during the celebrations - never take them with you to watch fireworks displays. Never leave animals tethered or chained outside. They can hang themselves if they try to leap over a fence to escape the noise. Close your windows and curtains, and turn on a classical music radio station or the TV to help drown out the sound of the fireworks. Make sure that your animal companions are wearing collars or harnesses with up-to-date identification tags, just in case.

Thank you very much for helping to protect animals on New Year's Eve.

WITH the benefit of 2020 hindsight, among the recurring themes appearing on this page there's a particularly irksome one.

Many correspondents, in my observation, habitually target the motives of those with whom they disagree rather than their arguments. For example, left-leaning views are called "woke" and holier than thou. Their proponents are derided for lecturing from the "high moral ground", and accused of being self-centred, insensitive, and thinking they have a monopoly on the truth.

This is all of a piece with the reactionary, populist perversion that now passes for conservatism in Australia and elsewhere. We're regularly subjected to tirades from right-wing politicians, and "research" articles from neoliberal think tanks about the scourges of political correctness, identity politics and virtue signalling. Indeed, on such artifices are whole political campaigns now built.

All these tactics serve a common aim - to avoid substance by smearing integrity. They suggest that certain opinions are expressed for effect, and stem from ulterior motives. Their essence therefore is an accusation of dishonesty, and their purpose is to cast the opinion holder as the issue rather than their opinion. For my part, while I'm hardly a shrinking violet about tackling views with which I disagree, and may even succumb too often to the temptations of sarcasm in doing so, I don't suggest those views are expressed, for example, in aid of clandestine tilts at the leadership of local branches of One Nation or the Flat Earth Society.

Here's to a better year in 2021. A year in which we take each other more at face value, conservatism in Australia wakes from its post-Howard fugue, Scott Morrison actually answers a question, the transition away from fossil fuels accelerates and the Knights finish higher than sixth. Happy new year.

STEVE German, if you wish to understand the humiliation of China by the West you need look no further than your phone.

First research the 4000-year history of China before you look at the two Opium Wars (where the West imposed opium on China in order to both profit and destabilise the population).

Then look at the Treaty of Nanking and the confiscation of Hong Kong, before a quick look at the Boxer Rebellion.

These events occurred only yesterday to the Chinese psyche, so for Scott Morrison to suggest the imposition of Western inspectors to investigate the origins of COVID-19 strikes a raw nerve with them.

Australia has such a short term electoral cycle it makes it difficult to understand that China thinks in terms of decades and even centuries to achieve its aims.

Our politicians need to take a deep breath and consider the long-term interests of all Australians and not just their own political survival in the next election.

GLADYS Berejiklian must allow a conscience vote when Alex Greenwich puts his bill before the parliament ('Most NSW voters back euthanasia law: poll', Herald 27/12). It's clear that a large majority of NSW voters would like the opportunity to die with dignity.

I, like thousands of other people have had to witness a love die a lingering, painful and pitiful death. We the (estimated 85 per cent) need to let our members of parliament know that we want voluntary assisted dying in NSW as they have in Victoria, Western Australia. It is also probably soon to be introduced into Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland.

Signing the petition which is currently being promoted by the Dying with Dignity (DWD) organisation, and which will be available in shopping centres throughout the coming months, will help to convince our MPs that we want dying in a dignified manner to be our choice.

IF SCOTT Morrison had any class I believe he would decline the Legion of Merit honour bestowed on him by Trump.

LATEST estimates predict that China will be the world's top economic power by 2028. I am in agreement with John Ure on having a much more understanding and diplomatic strategy in our dealings with China. Our government seems both ignorant of and unwilling to accept China's rise.

WHEN will be the right time, Gladys? Have you not seen the current percentage of people who want this assisted dying bill? These are the people who will remember your responses in the next election.

FURTHER to my letter on City of Newcastle, the disappearance of my garbage bin and my being told I would have to wait one to two weeks for a replacement, I'm happy to report that yes, Jeremy Bath (Letters 30/12), it has been replaced. I believe I have councillor John Church to thank for his involvement in emailing Mr Bath and telling him of our problem. It's a pity I had to go to those lengths to get a new bin when in my opinion council officers and bin positioners could have used a little common sense and sorted it themselves. Thank you again, John.

WITH regard to Newcastle Jets chief executive Lawrie McKinna apologising to Bernie Ibini over his comments ('Tall order', Herald 21/12), I don't think an apology was warranted. In my opinion what Mr McKinna said at the health luncheon was spot on.

HEARTWARMING to hear Morrison thank our essential services for their great work during our troubled times and reward them with a pay cut.

BRILLIANT Paul Scott, with your predictions for 2021 ('Fights, blights and Knights sure to feature', Opinion 28/12). Along with Mr Barnett there are a few more that sing from the same hymn sheet.

Donald Trump likes to blow his trumpet,

but what he says ain't worth a crumpet.

He sheds no tears when greeted with jeers

as people tell him he can lump it.

NEXT time Paul Gallen fights I reckon Gladys Berejiklian and Annastacia Palaszczuk should be on the undercard. It would bring the crowds back to boxing. I would have my $5 on Gladys.