Acquittal an embarrassing mark on Republican record

What a farce US impeachment has revealed itself to be. It is not a trial at all, purely a vote along partisan lines and always will be while outcomes are decided by politicians. A president can get away with anything if he has the numbers. From the ridiculous US college voting system (Trump lost the popular vote in both elections) to impeachment farce, it is no wonder US democracy can be seriously and violently challenged even though a president’s win is electorally certain and secure. Being a military superpower able to influence the fate of other nations, the US system of checks and balances needs to be of concern to the free world. That big country to our north has already taken great advantage of a weakened America. Tony Lewis, Mount Victoria

We are not surprised, not because we were told of the unlikelihood but because the US has a history of acquitting white men. Julie Robinson, Cardiff

So much for the comic book adage where the “mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American way”. Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook

In voting to acquit Donald Trump on charges that were clearly justified, Republican senators have chosen to side with the mob purely to retain their voting base. This decision will sit heavily on their party and the country for years. As Abraham Lincoln said before the first civil war – and I say “first” deliberately and with sadness – “a house divided against itself cannot stand”. Patrick McGrath, Potts Point

Working hard on policies that are hardly working

In a society with a growing gig economy, and where long years of service in a single company are no longer regarded as loyalty, maybe it’s time for all workers to have portability of entitlements (“A knife fight Morrison can’t win”, February 13-14). Could we not devise a superannuation-style scheme, funded by both the employers and employees, that allows workers the ability to transfer entitlements? Long service, annual holidays, sick leave and possibly even redundancy provisions could be covered by such a scheme. This would allow greater flexibility for workers and help mitigate corporate concerns over the cost of accumulating long-term employees’ benefits. John Mizon, Collaroy

What Peter Hartcher is supporting here is a Labor push that will see the worst predictions of the insolvency industry ratified. They believe there are many companies that will go to the wall once JobKeeper ceases. Without the ability to offer workers an agreed position that allows them to continue trading, their people will be out of a job with very little prospect of replacing it soon. History has shown the Left, driven largely by political aspirants in union ranks, would rather see hundreds of thousands lose work and pay than see any erosion, even short term, in pay and conditions to save jobs. The politics of the Left works very well to gain a larger share of profits in good times but fails when times are tough. This is why union membership is declining and Labor is losing its heartland. Gary Bigelow, Teralba

I enjoyed Peter Hartcher’s article and was getting excited as I read about part one of Labor’s workplace policy, except there was no mention of future jobs for people in industries affected by climate change (ie the mining industry). Didn’t Labor lose the election in 2019 partly because people working in coal mines thought they would not have jobs if they voted Labor? I would’ve thought the clever thing to do is come up with a plan that these people can see a future in. We all know change is coming; who is going to be brave enough to talk about it and give these people security? Maybe it’s in part two of Labor’s plan. Carla Gillis, Hallidays Point

Christian Porter did a very good job of explaining that Labor’s proposal would cost employers $20 billion a year. I wish he’d finished the job by explaining that it would give employees $20 billion a year and increase the government’s tax take. Ian Catt, Surry Hills

Cold showers forecast Barangaroo

I agree with Elizabeth Farrelly’s sentiments about the Barangaroo monstrosity (“Packer’s protuberance needs to be demolished”, February 13-14), but what she’s suggesting amounts to appropriation of private property. Under the constitution that can’t happen except with payment of compensation “on just terms”. Which is exactly, I would imagine, what James Packer wants at the moment, with his business world crashing around him. I don’t want my taxes to contribute to this debacle. Better, I say, to deny him a casino licence (ample grounds exist for that), leaving him, his banks and other lenders to pick up the pieces when the inevitable happens. It might also have the added benefit of deterring the banks from lending on any future such projects. Ian Jackson, Freshwater

If the use of slavery isn’t reason enough to demolish Ancient Greek and Roman architecture, then money laundering and opaque government approvals aren’t enough reason to demolish Packer’s protuberance. Alan Garrity, North Narrabeen

I think demolition is a bit extreme, but can we at least put a condom on it? Perhaps the artistic heirs to Christo can be persuaded to mount such a project. Franz Weiss, Maroubra

Bravo (again) Elizabeth Farrelly! Packer’s monstrous Temple to Greed, which violates Harbour views from every direction, has no reason (not that it ever had) for its continued existence. Get rid of it. Gayle Davies, North Sydney

Hear, hear, Elizabeth Farrelly. Demolish the monstrosity. Thelma Frost, Mudgee

Champing at the bit(coin)

So you’re saying that Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, is a strong advocate and centre figure in cryptocurrencies like bitcoin (“Australian bitcoin mogul at the centre of an epic crypto scandal”, February 13-14)? I just hope he has a very strong password for his account, and most importantly, that he never, ever forgets it. Unlike another giant investor, computer programmer Stefan Thomas, who has only two attempts left in which to guess the password to unlock his own bitcoin wallet worth about $300 million. Sue Casiglia, North Ryde

Scripted demise

What a great chance we have to save and breathe life into one of Sydney’s iconic old remaining picture palaces (“Rotting Roxy cast in drama between development and history”, February 13-14). Sadly the lack of vision surrounding the plans to give the Roxy theatre new life seems so inadequate.
The charismatic facade and entrance still stand, the owner says that in his plans the exterior won’t be touched. However, what is sorely needed is to save the Roxy is a proper stage house and facilities to actually make it a functioning theatre. We have lost so many wonderful old theatres, Sydney’s Regent theatre sadly suffered a blind eye to its possible future. The old Minerva theatre in Kings Cross still wallows in an uncertainty. Why is it such a problem to have the vision to realise arts venues are so important to our cities? Surely they are just as necessary as upgrading a football stadium? Greg Vale, Kiama

Sydneysiders are fed up with iconic useful functioning Sydney being extinct. Especially our beautiful theatres being mistreated and destroyed. Hence the good news ofthe Roxy being profiled for restoration instead of being the thoughtless booze box. The new era of the Enmore Theatre renovation and reopening indicates how possible it is, given effervescent ownership with vision. Now let’s see the trifecta of sensible theatre progress with the Metro Minerva in Potts Point being renovated as Sydney’s art deco Radio City Music Hall. Enough of the philistine rubble and grog.
Paul Brennan, Woollahra

Shelve the museum

What is really behind the obscene obsession of plonking a Parramatta Powerhouse on a flood prone site (“Parramatta Powerhouse given green light”, February 13-14)? The government and the “Western Sydney Powerhouse Community Alliance” are the only proponents. The Parramatta community does not want what is being presented.It i s telling that a new address for Willow Grove has not been identified. Nor is there any indication of its future use. Nor any timeline. The value of Willow Grove as part of Parramatta’s heritage is in its riverside setting in Phillip St. Bob Edgar, Westmead

Feeling disconnected

I agree with your correspondent (Letters, February 13-14). Those of us with dumbphones and not-so-smart-smartphones have been excluded by governments’ reliance on one-size-fits all apps to communicate. I’m sure there is a sizeable population in NSW who have been sidelined by this decision intended to make life easier for bureaucrats. Where’s Winston Smith when we need him?
Meg Pickup, Ballina (Bundjalung country)

I sympathise with your correspondent. I don’t need a smartphone, as all my internet needs are on my tablet. Recently I was refused service at a cafe because I could not log on with the QR code. I found out later that the government website states that a business is obliged to provide an alternative method such as a sign-in sheet, or in some cases have staff log in for me. Anthony Bayley, Mosman

Recognition problem

John Ive and Neils Olsen are among the many Australian farmers making valuable, innovative contributions to our battle against climate change (“Carbon copy this to cut emissions”, February 13-14), but I don’t recall seeing their names in recent Australian honours lists. Surely these are the people we should be recognising? John Ure, Mount Hutton

Court of public opinion

What a treat to view the Australian Open tennis free of those obnoxious spectators who made the Kyrgios match impossible to watch. John Byrne, Randwick

Fruits of life

I, too, started life as a JAB (Letters, February 13-14), but I sweetened up with marriage to JAM. Judith (A.) McVittie, Leeton (Wiradjuri country)

Juice squeezed out

My two-litre bottle of Australian orange juice has a five-star rating, fibre, vitamin C and no added sugar (“Juice judged on sugar content as protected star status lost”, February 13-14). I am yet to find any soft drink with the equivalent information on a product. Robyn Lewis, Raglan

Better with age

Great to see Ron Elphick back on the pages of the Herald – at 96 (Letters, February 13-14)! Ian Falconer, Turramurra

Chickened out

My father, a very modest man, would ask for “front pieces” at KFC as he thought saying breasts would be rude (Letters, February 13-14) – particularly if the employee was female. Helen Lyons-Riley, Springwood

The digital view
Online comment from the story that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au
Hunt rejects Andrews’ call to slash number of returned travellers
From Fred Nerk: Quarantine is a political nightmare, that’s the reason the Feds don’t want to be seen looking after it. Let the states take the flack for the inevitable escapees. It would have been much better for remote quarantine stations to have been used from the beginning. All the problems doing that would have been sorted out.