In 2000, Peter Costello brought in a system of allowing shareholders to get a cash refund if they receive more in franking credits than they actually owed in tax.

Because income from superannuation is tax free for people over 60, high income retirees were able use franking credits to get a cash gift for every dollar they received in dividends.

English economist John Maynard Keynes once said: "capitalism is a good economic system. In a capitalist system, people earn money from their work.

Businesses employ and pay people to work.

Then people can spend their money on things they want".

Capitalism, John Howard style: Invest. Do nothing.

You do not have to work; the government will reward you with handouts and taxation schemes.

Then out of the blue we have some people trying to justify these yearly, $11billion legislated handouts and tax concessions; as acceptable -we are all hateful and envious of them.

Well they are not acceptable and never will be.

What started out as budgetary bribes have progressed, over time, into permanent arrangements.

And may I hasten to say, it is the recipients of these gifts that handed Scott Morrison government.

John Macleod, Berry

Reading the Illawarra Mercury on June 11, the letter to the editor by our resident socialist commenting on the actions of the Australian Federal Police, I cannot understand his concerns regarding a legal actions by that law enforcement agency.

Is it not prudent to follow up on matters that are possibly illegal?

Or should we close our eyes and minds to appease the lefties, tree huggers and just stupid people.

Our security agencies already covertly monitor Australian citizens and thank god that they do otherwise there would have been many more atrocities committed by Islamic terrorists on our soil.

The writer wants a "cast iron guarantee " of Freedom of the Press.

Well before that happens what about honest, unbiased reporting by the Press so that we can make a determination regarding anything the Press serves up as being the truth.

There needs to be trust because as it stands now the Press is so biased and politically driven ,we the readers cannot trust the content delivered.

The current Press and journalists cannot be trusted with sensitive security information and I believe therefore that the actions of the AFP were totally justified and if that is not the case then the laws governing our country will deal with the transgressions.

That is democracy not the socialist system some want.

John Ernst, Kanahooka

EDITOR'S NOTE: Reader contributed images of our beautiful region run with the letters to the editor online on our website at illawarramercury.com.au. Send us your photos via email to letters@illawarramercury.com.au.