Grandma respect
Your correspondent (Letters, 10/11) is ‘shocked’ that Donald Trump’s chief of staff has been described as a ‘granny from Florida’.
These words could be interpreted as “Grandma occupies one of the most responsible positions in American politics and will organize us boys”, rather than a “throwback to the 1930s”.
The next president’s wording recognizes the respect owed to women for accomplishing the miracle of bringing new life into the world—not to mention caring for healthy, healthy children and grandchildren.
If Republican policies support women who won’t need to apologize for wanting “homemaker over career,” many may want to “follow suit.”
Who knows? “Grandmothers can demand that only women be qualified to draft legislation governing reproductive rights and abortion.”
Ronald Elliott, Sandringham

Kennett hits and memories
As a civil servant when Jeff Kennett first came to power in 1992, I can sympathize with how US federal bureaucrats would feel right now. First, there’s the sense of dread, knowing you might not have a job after January 20, 2025. Then there’s the reality of either losing your job or being reassigned if you’re lucky.
Kennett claims he fired 16 permanent department heads before lunch on the first day. I remember only two survived. He went on to sack 50,000 civil servants, close 350 schools, amalgamate councils and privatize a range of government services. He privatized the SEC, claiming it would make electricity cheaper, and we all know how that went.
With Trump, US federal civil servants can probably expect even worse.
David Fry, Moonee Ponds

World control
James Bond 007 is fiction, but after November 5th it quickly becomes reality. After reading Jacqueline Maley’s work “How Musk Helped Throw Trump Back in the White House”, 10/11), the similarities between the Trump/Musk and James Bond films are too strong.
Whether it’s movies from Dr No to Never Say Never Again, Trump and Musk fit the bill.
Last week we saw Teena McQueen, Gina Rinehart and Nigel Farage enjoying themselves at the Trump function. This heightens the contrast between low-wage workers and immigrants who voted for Trump and
oligarchs who want to preserve the status quo.
Margaret Raffle, Keilor East

A deal to remember
JD Vance and Elon Musk together. For how long?
Gerry Lonergan, Reservoir

FORUM

The Amsterdam Revolt

The report”.More than 60 people were arrested after Israeli fans attacked in Amsterdam″​​ (10/11) only gave one side of what happened in the Netherlands. While attacking innocent people is never acceptable, this account was not complete. The aggression was not unilateral, it was preceded by acts of anti-Palestinian aggression by football fans.
Carol McCammon, Coburg

Rights vs Responsibilities
Your correspondent Christos Tsiolkas refers to the erosion of public trust in institutions and the current political system (Letters, 10/11). This may or may not be true. But what is known, especially in social media, is the level of misinformation and disinformation that permeates the medium.
His fear of potential censorship arising from the disinformation bill is misplaced, as freedom of speech is not unlimited; comes with responsibilities. Take, for example, Voice to Parliament, where Twitter debates fooled the original Yes supporters into thinking there was a better option. We know what happened next. If this bill had been law then, the referendum would have been a simple proposal and nothing more.
Anders Ross, Heidelberg

The kids will figure it out
I just tried the new Google AI but it got an error saying “currently not available in your location” so I moved my VPN to America and got full access. I am 71 years old. Today’s generation has grown up with this technology and to think that they won’t get around anything the government puts in place to stop them from using social media is pure fantasy.
Graeme Doyle, Balwyn

Woolworths dystopia
Thank you, Victoria Devine (″​​Woolworths’ ‘dystopian’ workplace may improve KPIs but demeans workers″​​, 10/11) for disclosure of workplace practices at Woolworths. I am now a former Woolworths customer who will happily ditch the loyalty card and buy meat, fruit and veg elsewhere. I would be grateful for more information on how Coles workplace conditions compare to Woolworths and advice on where I could buy household food without spending hours walking from store to store.
Mirna Cicioni, Brunswick East

The best divided mountains
Parks Victoria has proposed widespread bans on climbing in the Arapiles and Grampians at the expense of a cultural experience. In New Zealand, Mt Cook (Aoraki) National Park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Ngai Tahu. This is a shared arrangement where use of the park is open to all. Areas of the park are seen as Tapu (sacred) and this is recognized and respected. One culture is not favored over another. Mountaineers and Maori coexist, respecting the land and its history and current use.
Your climbing heritage is important. It’s a huge global sport, an Olympic event, and Victoria has been a destination area for climbers from everywhere.
This would be a spectacular ‘own goal’, erasing over 100 years of Australian climbing history and preventing future generations of Australians from experiencing it.
Take the Kiwi experience of shared land use and respect for different cultures as a model for land care.
Rod Kirkwood, Christchurch, NZ

Mathematics for all
When I worked as an adjunct teacher after retirement, I was always asked to teach math classes. It was quite obvious that mathematics was a mystery to many of the teachers in the primary schools where I helped. Place value, fractions, manipulating equations, and order of operations seem to confuse many of us.
It’s a shame because the possibility of mathematics is all around us. Traditions need it, just like people who shop in the supermarket. Farmers solve practical math problems every day. The ability to compete with the rest of the world usually involves solving complex mathematical problems.
Paul Chivers, Box Hill North

Girls, boys, math
The report on Australia’s falling maths (and science) standards in our schools (“Students are avoiding specialized math, and this is costing the economy billions9/11) is one of many in recent years.
The question researchers should be asking, but probably won’t answer, is how much addressing the female disadvantage contributed, given that boys are more likely to be interested in and excel in these subjects.
The argument given for the absence of women in math and science, which was included in the article, is that girls lack confidence. Maybe another reason is that they just aren’t that interested.
This is not to say that girls should not be encouraged along with boys, but trying to steer students into areas of less interest to them should not be done at the expense of students who are more invested.
Paul Spinks, South Geelong

Silo art inspires
Since being introduced to the silo art on a tour from Yarrawonga a few years ago, we have made two more trips to see more of it, covering North Central Victoria and North West Victoria. The comments of your recent correspondents seem to me difficult to identify.
I found nothing to contend with; rather, the major themes were local cultural history and wildlife. Unfortunately, many of the north-west Victorian silos have faded badly, but even so, the whole concept does something much better than a boring concrete cylinder.
Laurie Comerford, Chelsea

AND ANOTHER THING

American values
JD Vance almost sent me into orbit when he agreed that the whole purpose of the postmenopausal woman is to help raise grandchildren. And now a silver lining; Trump names grandmother Susie Wiles, 67, to be his next chief of staff. Take care of JD and give me the popcorn.
Janet Barr, Toorak

Federal Election 2025. Look out for Gina Rinehart jumping on stage as Peter Dutton gives his stump speech. It will be quite a sight.
Jenny Smithers, Ashburton

The people of America have just voted for a second revolution.
Tony O’Brien, South Melbourne

Re Dutton’s comments on the uncanny similarities between Australia and the US (9/11). He’s right for once. He and Trump are eerily similar in many ways.
Geoff Charles, Mt Waverley

A quote from Trump “Global warming is a hoax.” I wonder if he’ll be of that opinion when the sea starts beating at Mar-a-Lago’s front door.
Greg Bardin, North Altona

I can’t believe there are women in the US who voted for Trump.
Michael Brinkman, Ventnor

Musk could not be president of the United States because he was born in South Africa. It only cost him about $200 million to become de facto president. Business!
Bev Haigh, Avondale Heights

In addition
The state of world politics? Exactly why we need baby hippos, baby peregrine falcons and Pesto the penguin in our news.
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill

So sad to hear about The Lume’s demise (″The Immersive Art Experience The Lume Will Close Its Doors in 2026, 9/11). It has been a truly amazing experience to visit his various shows over the years. Something very different and special.
Marie Nash, Balwyn

We didn’t have social media to surf as a kid, but I remember my mom and dad surviving by singing “Slow Hand” by the Pointer Sisters on a hot summer evening.
Simon Williamson, West Footscray

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