IT’S ALL THEFT
I am often dismayed, but unfortunately not surprised, at the hypocrisy which often characterises the approach of politicians, police and the media to crimes like theft and fraud.
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Being employed in retail, I am very familiar with the contempt leveled at shoplifters.
I am not concerned with defending the practice, but, whatever your view, there is no doubting that, in terms of economic harm, it is at least matched by the systemic rorts perpetrated on the Australian public by corrupt banks.
The same can be said of welfare fraud. We revile and punish those who claim disability payments under false pretenses, for example, whilst casting very little vitriol in the direction of corporate fat-cats funneling billions of dollars into tax havens.
Whatever you think of their acts, the former group of people are cast as criminals with an ease that is very rarely extended to their white-collar brethren.
In so doing, we are picking the low-hanging fruit and tacitly giving a pass to the immensely damaging criminality of those with money and privilege. Somewhere we need to find the political will as a society to change this state of affairs.
Brett Heino, Koonawarra
IN POLL POSITION
Polls are part of our news cycle. Many are commissioned by self-interest groups and the subsequent findings, when reported, seem to be accepted by many as being accurate, and reliable.
This worries me and I wonder just how to think about the process taken to arrive at a poll result.
Research projects consider many elements and one important element is the sample size, that is, the percentage of people who will be polled.
Many polls are reported as being national and yet a very small percentage of the population will be polled. If a group or an organisation is so inclined and wants a poll to come to a certain conclusion, it is an easy matter to achieve that solution.
Yet, with such potential for flaws in the polling process we are constantly bombarded through media with reports of poll outcomes telling us that 80% of Australians said this, want that, will vote in a certain way.
And in many cases this type of categorical reporting will influences people’s views and/or decision making. It’s high time the reporting of poll results is regulated.
Richard Burnett, Wollongong
THEATRICAL OPPORTUNITY
A decision on the future of the Bridge Street Theatre at Coniston is a wonderful opportunity for council to create a contemporary, council-managed space that is affordable, equitable and available to diverse professional and community groups.
A plan of management would allow council to operate a lock up facility, with minimum staff, yet still ensure good policies and practices occur. Models for this type of performing arts space exist elsewhere.
Council would obtain more money from subleases to various groups than they would by letting any one group have sole use, as producer or manager, without any income (as is planned in a report to go to council this Monday).
This income would probably pay for any upkeep. The current users would be welcome to stay on for part of the share and share the space like all deserving groups.
Geoffrey Sykes, Stanwell Tops
- Letters on election issues must bear the name and full address of the writer(s). Responsibility for election comment in this issue is accepted by Fairfax Illawarra and South East NSW group managing editor Kim Treasure, 77 Market St, Wollongong. Writers should disclose any alliance with political or community organisations and include their telephone number for verification. Election candidates should declare themselves as such when submitting letters.
