Letters to the editor January 27 2017

Please accept my personal apology and do not imagine all Australians are cowardly violent thugs like these attackers.

Just as a few Muslims have become insane violent extremists we also have our own insane violent extremists who sadly are often religiously or politically motivated.

All Australians should want a free and peaceful society not one based on fear and bigotry.  

Our brave service men and women fought and died for freedom in this country, these cowards show no respect for their sacrifice by wanting to remove freedoms.

I am ashamed that this has happened,

Doug Steley, Heyfield

So you are resigning as NSW Premier Mike Baird.

You initially got you job due to the sacking of Barry O'Farrell and his acceptance of a bottle of Penfolds Grange.

Mike, I know you read this.

So please reflect your time in office.

You have been a total embarrassment with your initial one billion dollar error in state accounts, state lock out laws (which in fact Gladys Alphabet initially protested against) ,the back down of greyhound racing, and the abolishment of TAFE.

Premier, last year you put out a staff memo warning Ministry's staff not to embarrass you.

Well that went well …. not.

You have totally ignored the Illawarra.

Good riddance.

Mick Chamberlain, Dapto

John Stuart Mill one of the most influential thinkers in the history of liberalism summed up freedom of speech with the following statement: “If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, and if only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind”.

Yet today governments go about business in secret ignoring those of different opinions – casting the die of autocracy condemning the democratic rights of the people.

John Macleod, Berry

Members of the Greens who want to disrupt Australia Day celebrations and encourage people to steal and burn flags should be immediately expelled from their party.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale should show some spine and expel these far left members for encouraging theft and flag burning.

To think that elected representatives would promote illegal acts is a disgrace .

We have these ratbags wanting to grandstand and denigrate what we stand for.

Those elected to show leadership and make important decisions about our country are the last people in the community who should be inciting such action. I call on Mr Di Natale to do something about this .

Matty Ryan, Fairy Meadow

If ever there was a good time to loosen our ties with the USA, this is it.

For too long now, often to our detriment, we have tagged along with America, especially with regard to foreign policy.

America now has an unworthy and unpredictable President who does not deserve the unquestioning support that Australia has given to his predecessors.

If Trump wants to “put America first,” good luck to him.

It will get ugly. Let us at least distance ourselves from this loose cannon.

John Martin, Woonona