Both sides in this horrendous five-year conflict have committed unspeakable atrocities against the civilian population, with 250,000 people now dead and  10 million displaced from their homes. 

Of those dead 75 per cent have died at the hands of the Assad government, the latest being more than 100 men, women and children who were the victims this week of a government rocket attack on a market place in a town called Douma outside Syria’s capital Damascus.

 We shouldn’t be supporting either side. 

We shouldn’t be there at all, and our meddling certainly doesn’t reduce the terrorist threat in Australia.

John Martin, Woonona

‘‘Absolute power corrupts absolutely...’’ and in the interests of  media and politics, legitimacy becomes inconsequential. 

The public fall victim to excessive manipulation by narcissistic members of the media industry and government.

 The media and politicians share a tense relationship, and despite divergence they each depend on one another for survival.  

Without access to current affairs, the media would become deprived of topics to discuss and without the media politicians lose public profile and have no way of reaching their electorate.

 The relationship between media and politics lies at the centre of democracy, a balance between the two is of the highest importance for the sake of our treasured democratic society. 

We see too commonly politicians scrutinising the media, manipulating them and misinforming the public, thus degrading the meaning of democracy.

It has come to a point where we are forced to question, who to trust?

Kaitlyn Kelly, Koonawarra

Well written Margaret Wolfe (Fix that lazy lip Bill, Mercury, August 20). 

How refreshing to read a letter written by a reader so educated and so absolutely correct.  Not one of us can argue about these words Margaret.

 People in positions of high trust and accountability should not be addressing the nation speaking like an Aussie bogan if they want to be taken seriously. 

Other high-profile celebrities have sought help to overcome speech impediments, so why not you Bill?

Christine Steinmann, Balgownie 

 Traditionally Australian governments, Labor and LNP, during workers’ campaigns for improvements to conditions of employment, have supported the employer’s argument of “an inability to pay” even for  most minor of improvements  sought by workers.

 A similar bipartisan negativity is demonstrated whenever a minimum wage hearing arises. The current huffing and puffing... can be quite easily tested.

 All that is required is for Australian parliamentarians to argue, as they have consistently, against all other workers being granted improved conditions of employment, a case that the politicians’ employers (the Australian taxpayers) no longer have the capacity to pay any improvements that the Remuneration Tribunal might grant politicians!

Barry Swan, Balgownie