In an article from August 29, 2017, “How the right destroyed an ABC gem to push their Stalinist agenda”, Crikey incorrectly suggested journalist Tom Switzer had been sacked from ABC Radio National. This is not the case. Switzer left the public broadcaster voluntarily. Crikey regrets the error and apologises unreservedly to him for the mistake.

On Malcolm Roberts and the cost of living

Victoria Campbell writes:  Re. “Malcolm Roberts has cost of living answers” (Thursday) 

Obviously the cost of living is not an issue for one half of the population, even though they are generally lower paid, or else the nutty goblin may have thought to invite a woman or two to speak.

On an Australian bill of rights

John Richardson writes: Re. “Politicians’ contempt for liberties shows need for bill of rights” (Friday).

Bernard Keane rightly gives the finger to our elitist political leaders for their contemptuous attitude toward the rest of us, in particular as evidenced by their latest casual attack on our civil liberties. But he should also have given the finger to the rest of us as well.

While I detest our political class for their persistent betrayal of my fellow countrymen and women, I detest even more the willingness of the majority of Australians to silently tolerate that abuse. I have come to believe that Australians secretly crave the arrogant bullying heaped on them by their authoritarian “betters” … it’s as though we think that if we behave like children and submit meekly to anyone who claims to have authority over us, that we will somehow be rendered safe.

I also wonder if our acceptance of that abuse by our “betters” is somehow often made easier by our own willingness to mistreat those who we believe are weaker and beneath our particular station: like our Indigenous people, immigrants or those who have failed at the economic games that we all seem to believe now-days represent the pinnacle of societal achievement.

How can we not wonder what kind of hapless people we are for having taken Donald Horne’s brutal indictment of 1960s Australia — “Australia is a lucky country, run by second-rate people who share its luck”– as a compliment? Thanks Bernard and thanks also to Donald.

On US gun control

Joe Boswell writes: Re. “America’s gun-toting fanaticism is too deeply embedded in the nation’s psyche to ever be removed” (Friday)

Michael Bradley’s description of the very deep roots of “America’s gun-toting fanaticism” is fair enough except for the assertion that it begins with the Revolutionary War and people believing they are “quite different from anything that had previously existed in a national form.” This ignores the inspiration the American colonists clearly took from the right to bear arms they found in the English Bill of Rights of 1689, which was also their law until their independence:

Whereas the late King James the Second, by the assistance of divers evil counsellors, judges and ministers employed by him, did endeavour to subvert and extirpate the Protestant religion and the laws and liberties of this kingdom; 

… By causing several good subjects being Protestants to be disarmed at the same time when papists were both armed and employed contrary to law; 

….And thereupon the said Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons… do in the first place (as their ancestors in like case have usually done) for the vindicating and asserting their ancient rights and liberties declare 

…. That the subjects which are Protestants may have arms for their defence suitable to their conditions and as allowed by law; 

How this right was gradually rendered nugatory in the UK and Australia is another good story, and provides some explanation for the American gun nuts’ paranoia about their Second Amendment right being eroded if they give any ground at all.