We live in troubled times, so it’s not surprising that many Australians feel unsafe (“Australia: the frightened country”, June 23). Donald Trump bears the blame for much of the distrust and unrest in the world. His presidency has been disastrous, and the consequences are immeasurable and ongoing. US voters knew what a depraved, unconscionable creature Trump is, and what he is capable of, yet still elected him. They can’t claim to have been blindsided. The Republican Party’s ongoing support of Trump demonstrates how devoid of morals and ethics it has become. Many voters are disappointed in our government, but it’s far better than anything else on offer. This is still the best country in the world and most of what we have is worth saving. It’s incomprehensible that so many voters believe One Nation is the answer to their needs. If we choose to experiment with Trumpism here, then we deserve all the pain and suffering that comes with it. Graham Lum, North Rocks US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Monday.APIf Australian support for the US “remains robust at 73 per cent” as cited by Peter Hartcher, quoting from a recent poll, you can bet it’s not because of Donald Trump personally. Rather, it’s because of the belief that our greatest and biggest ally one fine day in the imminent future will send that megalomaniacal human wrecking ball, and his entourage, packing. Then and only then will the US have shown us that Making America Great Again does not include ruining an international reputation built on trust, reliability, support, diplomacy and maturity. It consists in slowly recovering those qualities and returning to a sense of normal governance, and a world freed from a chaotic and frenzied dictatorial approach, the consequences of which have wrought untold misery, injustice, war, insecurity and fear. Frederick Jansohn, Rose BayPolls are one indicator of how people are feeling, and they can give a skewed view of what is happening. We are not, in my experience, a frightened country. We are generally “pissed off”. We are annoyed that a narcissistic fool was elected to the White House, by a significant number of people, not necessarily the majority. Our closest trading partner wants to rule the world and doesn’t respect us enough to listen to us without penalty. We are annoyed that war is such an easy option for bullies and brigands. We are annoyed that after so many of our best and brightest died in world wars trying to save the world from itself, the world has learnt nothing. We are annoyed that politicians who should know better are self-destructing, allowing racist blamers to seize the narrative. We are sick of being lied to and treated like we don’t matter. We aren’t scared, we are “pissed off”. Geoff Nilon, MascotA still from Iran’s Lego series of videos that regularly amassed several million views.YouTubeI am not surprised that only 21 per cent of Australians trust Donald Trump’s foreign policy. His stupidity seems boundless. Trump’s threat to kill Iranian negotiators, his claim that Giorgia Meloni grovelled to him for a photo, and his weird fixation on the colour of a reflecting pool in Washington are recent examples of his intemperateness. It is easy for Iranian negotiators to portray themselves as more reasonable and steady. And their rap YouTube Lego propaganda videos mocking Trump are amusing. However, we should remember that criticism of the Iranian government by its citizens is not permitted. Nor is rap music. Iran has murdered thousands of its own citizens for dissent, and recently sentenced a popular female singer to 74 lashes for performing without a hijab. Not to mention its support of terrorist proxies Hamas and Hezbollah. However toxic Trump’s brand has become, it should not blind us to greater evil. Salvatore Sorbello, CampsiePeter Hartcher states that “most Australians feel ‘unsafe’ in the world”. I don’t think that is the case. I agree that the USA, Russia, China, the Middle East etc pose threats to world peace, but if a nuclear world war breaks out, then we have no chance of survival. Meanwhile, I believe we are still the lucky country and should not live in fear. Denis Suttling, Newport Beach After reading Peter Hartcher’s article on present day Australia, I was not sure if I should climb under the bed with a brown paper bag over my head. What if Trump implodes? What if Pauline Hanson becomes prime minister? What if China, Russia or North Korea cast covetous eyes on our bountiful land. According to Peter, the sky is definitely falling. Then again it is a nice day, a trifle cool and we have Albo in charge so ... no worries. As Candide said: “Il faut cultiver notre jardin”. The sky might not fall. Nola Tucker, Kiama Illustration by Cathy Wilcox Starmer a casualty of short-sighted strategiesWith news of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s demise after only two years in the top job, one can only lament the loss of a seemingly decent human and politician at the hands of a rapacious press and the flesh-eating avarice of right-wing populists and post Brexit opportunists (“Emotional Starmer steps down”, June 23). It yet again demonstrates the crumbling nature of our political structures, which no longer have the capacity to accommodate long-term and strategic policy application when they are constantly hamstrung by the noise of day-to-day political point-scoring and gamesmanship. What opportunities do any of our societies have if the short term-ism of social media commentary and the populist extremism of political chancers always gains more traction than the sober political planning and strategy required of our elected officials? The problems that face our societies and economies demand long-term vision and serious strategising in political cycles that increasingly deny such luxury of time. Starmer is but another casualty of this dilemma, having been brought down by an impatient populace and media who expect miraculous and speedy solutions to entrenched problems. Rebecca Semple, AbbotsfordIt was refreshing to see a UK Labour member of parliament acting like he believes in what he says – travelling to parliament from Manchester by train. Now there’s a man o’ the people. When was the last time an Australian PM travelled by train? Les Sisley, KelsoSir Keir Starmer resigns … June 22, Feast of St Thomas More, patron saint of politicians! Fr John Andersen, PeruSchool’s ethics testIn all fairness, I feel it’s unfair to criticise the lack of staff payment to teachers at Redeemer Baptist School if they’re being appropriately cared for by the church (“School has property empire, no paid staff”, June 23). I was educated in Catholic schools in the days when most staff were nuns. I recall state funding first being introduced in the 1950s as our school holidays were aligned with those of state schools as part of the agreement. The nuns and brothers who provided our education were never paid. However, despite government pensions, they are still well cared for, in old age, by the church. Katriona Herborn, BlackheathYour story reports that Redeemer asserts that its governance and operations adhere to the law. Your editorial contends that public money funding such an arrangement is “ethically questionable” (“Cautionary tale for private school parents”, June 23). Too right! This quote, surely, perfectly nails it: “Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.” Edward Loong, Milsons PointAn example of a modular home in Clovelly.Wild ModularPrices fall, now for nicer homesIt is welcome news that house prices are likely to drop by up to $100,000 (“Home values may go down by $100,000”, June 23). Add Premier Minns’ modular housing initiative (“Modular homes may a magic bullet for Minns”, June 22), and if urban planning embraced the benefits of terrace or row houses like most UK and European cities do, first home prices and the cost of land could significantly drop. Standard designs would be quicker to build and more thermally efficient. Why couldn’t it work in the outer suburban developments close to transport hubs, instead of only 30-or-more-storey apartment blocks that do not appeal to young families? We had a period of apartment renting but loved the inner urban terrace that gave us our home ownership start. Sue Ellyard, EppingChris Minns’ newfound enthusiasm for modular building is a distraction because it doesn’t address the main reason housing has become so expensive – the mismatch between supply and demand (Letters, June 23). Federally, Labor is to be congratulated for its recent budget measures, reforming negative gearing and CGT, though historically high levels of immigration continue to fuel the fire. But on the supply side it is the NSW government that needs to act. And that’s the problem. There is no shortage of low-grade sheep-grazing land in NSW, and the area around Canberra would be an ideal place for decentralisation. Despite this, the tiniest blocks of land outside of Queanbeyan still cost more than $440,000, a figure that locks out people on average incomes. Why is Minns not addressing this issue? Nicholas Reid, Hughes (ACT)Real estate agents and property-rich folk may be ruing the heat going out of the market but this is the very blessing first home buyers need. Those with investment dollars should look elsewhere and let houses be homes. I say this knowing that the property my daughter bought recently is probably worth a little less but recognising it is for the general good of the nation. Lesley Forbes, KewTrades of glory“Careers advisers, intellectuals and decision-makers pushed the agenda that tertiary education would provide … a well-paid and satisfying career” (Letters, June 23), while a youngster of my acquaintance started an apprenticeship instead of year 11. (Everyone lamented the academic loss.) He nearly has his “papers” building and restoring homes. Trigonometry beats ChatGPT any day, while saving leadlight windows and gardens balances out all the sweaty, dangerous and frustrating days. Appreciative pensioners keep their doors open for a cuppa and chat any time. His sweetheart is a hairdresser and they laugh at HECS debt, have a substantial deposit and are mortgage-ready. Stockpiles of old timber, windows, doors, copper, tin and trees wait in readiness with their parents for dream acres in sight. And what follows adored “fur babies” when you have a home of your own? Ronald Elliott, Sandringham (Vic)I caught a taxi home from the airport last week and had a conversation with the young driver. He was from Pakistan and had originally come to Australia to do business studies. However, he had seen that Australia was in need of qualified tradies for home building so had switched his studies to carpentry. Here was a bright young man who recognised our skills shortages and was in the process of filling that need. This is precisely the sort of person we need in this country. Yet he is also the sort of person Pauline Hanson wants to exclude. Matthew Holle, ErskinevilleOne Nation leader Pauline Hanson during a division in the Senate on Tuesday.Alex EllinghausenDon’t sell Hanson shortMany of your correspondents find much to criticise in Pauline Hanson (Letters, June 23). A couple of years ago I attended a high-level morning meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on the issue of long-term storage of low-level radioactive waste. As I was leaving Canberra to drive back to Sydney I received a phone call to ask if I could return to give Senator Hanson a one-on-one briefing on this issue. We met in her parliamentary office and had a conversation about this issue for an hour or so. I found her to be incredibly well-informed on the topic (especially the judicial bypass that was being proposed by the then-government), whip-crack sharp and, dare I say it, utterly charming. I left with a different view of her. Anyone or party who underestimates her is fooling themselves.Dale Bailey, St LeonardsTo use one of Pauline Hanson’s banal expressions, “I am sick to death” of reading her ignorant outpourings on topics about which she has little or no knowledge. Her anti-intellectualism is spellbinding as she promises to criminalise “climate activism” and, like Trump, calls global warming a hoax. Despite her rejection of settled science, you would think that pictures of crowds in Europe trying to escape near-40-degree temperatures (“Europe swelters”, June 23) might strike some kind of chord, especially when it will be those like her own grandchildren who will bear the brunt of its most disastrous consequences.Bernard Moylan, BronteWFH is no own goalWhen I joined the workforce in the ’60s, employees were believed to require constant oversight to ensure they didn’t rip you off (“WFH is great but is it an own goal for young jobseekers?”, June 23). Sign on and sign off, with somebody being present every few days to note the time of the signings. If employees arrived a minute late they were required to complete an application for leave. Staff worked in large offices with a supervisor present all the time to ensure they didn’t goof off. When the idea of flexible working hours was first raised, there was instant opposition to the change. As for working from home, I recall that when that was forced on us by COVID, productivity promptly increased! This is because staff, when given ownership and responsibility, respond positively. That was an early observation of mine and it formed the basis of my management approach, where I would define what we had to achieve, and my team and I would agree the best way to get there. So, WFH is not an own goal; the young jobseekers merely need to be included in discussions and given ownership.Michael McMullan, Avoca BeachLionel Messi celebrates his two goals against Austria in the World Cup on Monday.Getty ImagesLeft aloneDa Vinci, Michelangelo, Curie, Bowie, Hendrix, McCartney, Churchill, Obama, Babe Ruth, Navratilova, and now, Lionel Messi, lefties all. Just saying.Andrew Cohen, GlebeFlush with problemsReading the article by Jo Pybus about the “innovations” in women’s toilets (“Damn evil designers and their attempts at toilet humour”, June 23), I wonder who designs them? Is it a misogynist male who is “getting his own back” for being put to bed early by Mum or denied that extra slice of cake? It must be, as no woman would design such items designed to frustrate and soak, when all you wanted was a quiet visit to the “restroom”.Marjie Williamson, BlaxlandTo submit a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald, email letters@smh.com.au. 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