In primary school, we were taught alliteration in poetry. All ears was I when our alliterative leader leapt in lately with the august and apt “arc of autocracy”. This linguistic leadership can only be lost or eliminated on election day but, alas and alack, what a lamentable loss to lose our own arc of alliteration. Meantime, where are our seven submarines to solve our ship shortage or shore up our Solomons slippage? Ivan Head, Burradoo

Scott Morrison has repeated his glib mantra that “an arc of autocracy is challenging the rules-based order our grandparents had secured, and democratic freedoms”. I contend that the main threat to Australia’s rules-based order and democratic freedoms is not coming from China or Russia but much closer to home in the form of his government, which has failed to introduce a federal corruption commission with teeth. John Payne, Kelso

On Anzac Day, we heard our PM extol the “rules-based” international order, yet just in 2019 he said that it doesn’t serve our national interests when international institutions demand conformity rather than independent co-operation on global issues. It may surprise him that rules are supposed to be conformed to, no matter how uncomfortable that is at times. Of course, our leader is adept at adopting a variety of positions when it suits and clearly any rules-based approach to climate and emissions is always an exception. Tony Sullivan, Adamstown Heights

One major Pacific relationship that Scott Morrison has mishandled is its friendship with France. The country’s strategic influence in the Pacific, with its territories of French Polynesia and Noumea, should have meant that France would be a strong ally deterring the infiltration of a totalitarian regime in the region. Glen op den Brouw, Liverpool

All the pork talk is now boar-ing

Does pork-barrelling even work (“Time to rule out the pork barrel”, April 26)? I’d like to hear from undecided voters in marginal seats. Do political commitments to local spending really change your voting intentions? If not, then that’s a lot of money, time and hot air expended for no reason. Bronwyn Bryceson, Mangerton

We could just turn this federal election campaign into a TV talk show a la Oprah or Ellen. No real issues, prepared soundtracks, lightweight questions, two-minute interview/sound grabs, prepped audiences ... and the winner is whoever has the biggest advertising budget. On the upside, everybody wins a car, or at least some pork from the magic barrel that never stops giving. Barry Ffrench, Cronulla

Jessica Irvine is, as always, spot on. If we “rule out the barrel” we may have “the blues on the run” but the reds are under and in the same bed. Neither is likely to deliver the changes she details or a federal ICAC with real teeth unless forced by the Independents.
Graeme Stewart, Palm Beach

Put simply, the age-old practice of pork-barrelling is about misuse of public money. Taxpayers or public money should be used for public benefit, assessed on merits basis, and not to benefit the incumbent party. Indeed, it is time to rule out the pork barrel. The persistent rorts and scandals surrounding the focus on winning elections inevitably decreases public trust in government.
Steve Ngeow, Chatswood

Perhaps someone could let politicians and advisors know that electors now regard all those pork-barrelling promises rather like letters to Santa Claus. Most of us are not expecting those many glittering announcements to result in sporting fields and medical facilities to arrive gift-wrapped sometime after May 21. So perhaps they could stop it. Tracey Meredith-Marx, Wentworth Falls

For members of non-marginal electorates to get the same benefits as those of the marginals, there is a simple solution — vote out your current member. Paul Keys, Clouds Creek

An affront to a hero

Martin Clemens’ heroics as outlined so eloquently by Peter Hartcher (“While we watched Taiwan ...”, April 26) should be required reading for our politicians and diplomats. If they had the commitment to our neighbours that Clemens had, there would be no possibility of any unfriendly nation gaining a foothold in the South Pacific. If he was alive today, Clemens would have been bewildered by the way Australia treated another neighbour to its rights to oil revenue. The Timor-Leste people did so much for our country in World War II, yet this was forgotten when they needed our assistance to become financially secure. Tony Re, Georges Hall

Give teachers more

For too long, teachers have been plied with platitudes of gratitude and community respect alone (“Teachers are experts worthy of our trust”, April 26). Classroom teachers deserve all these accolades and more recently we have seen how the economy can be halted without their important duties and skills. Yet most are parents (even grandparents) with families who have their aspirations and needs. Teachers deserve guaranteed real wage increases; they cannot live on gratitude and trust alone. Janice Creenaune, Austinmer

For students to successfully achieve “all the academic backflips” they are capable of, they need parents and teachers who put student needs ahead of any of their self-serving priorities, and who ignore the bureaucratic demands and number crunching done for political purposes. As the world is already full of backflips, it is time now to concentrate on forward rolls. Joy Cooksey, Harrington

It’s time for fairness

We have all felt the impact of the rise in cost of living (“Supply chain woes to shift globalisation”, April 26) or, to express it more meaningfully, a reduction in our standard of living. Re-organising our supply chains and keeping them closer to home, or (amazing thought) at home, will cause major ruptures in economic systems, which will probably cause further lowering of our standard of living.
As the industrial revolution has morphed into globalisation, the standard of living in the Western world has skyrocketed, but only at the direct expense of the poorer people of the world. This was never morally right, and in our hearts, we know it. We must address inequity and over-competitiveness in a generous and creative way. Can we preserve our economic security in a way that does not compound our moral laxity? I believe Australians are ready. Where are the courageous leaders to show us the way? Judith Wheeldon, Roseville Chase

Toll worry rings loudest

The editorial (“City pays a fortune in tolls: the system needs to be better”, April 26) mentions the option of broad-based road-user charges for greater fairness and efficiency. A road-user charge which could include congestion pricing could be combined with proper compensation to toll road operators to not only spread road costs more fairly, but also to ensure electric vehicle drivers pay for road use. Vehicle registration fees could be adjusted to make the changes cost-neutral for most motorists. Giving us more efficient use of our roads. An equitable road-user charge with congestion pricing is a major economic reform crying out to be done. Ross Mewton, North Bondi

In Sydney, ask not for whom the motorway tolls — it tolls for thee, and thee, and thee, and for all humanity. And it tolls repeatedly. Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills

Words worthiness

I will gladly join the campaign to put the “l” back in “vulnerable” (Letters, April 26). Meantime, can we please remove the “chew” from “opportunity?” Andrew Pringle, Paddington

I would like to join the campaign to put the “l” back in “vulnerable”. After that, can put the “l” back in “Australia”? Dick Pollitt, Mosman

I support the campaign. I’m also seeking support to stop wanky airport announcements that your flight “through” to Sydney is ready for boarding. Justin Fleming, North Sydney

It’s become prolific but the pronunciation of “ceremony” as “ceremoany” drives me to despair. It’s even on the ABC. Donna Wiemann, Balmain

May I add my pet peeve? The unnecessary attachment of “event” to various happenings. Mostly weather related. Jo McGahey, Belrose

What about “exactly right”? Is it possible for something to be “inexactly right”? John Lees, Castlecrag

Combined woes

Thank you to your correspondent (Letters, April 26). My day is better for reading “desperation and profligacy writ large”. Sally James, Russell Lea

The digital view
Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au
A ‘cancer on our democracy’: How to fix Australia’s pork-barrelling crisis
From RUkidding: ″⁣Fixed-term government and no pork-barrelling contingencies in budgets. That might help. A federal ICAC with teeth is a must.″⁣

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