I also agree with the French president’s idea of reducing the number of politicians.

I think the reason, David, we are stuck with a rotten political system that breeds mediocre politicians who pursue populist politics is because we, the people, are to blame.

How on earth did “Kevin 07” ever get elected? He just piped the populist politics tune and the rest is history and we are still paying for it.

Your editorial on abuse (“Employees should not live in fear of abuse”, Bendigo Advertiser, July 8) is a stalking horse for self-censorship and political correctness in Australia where the power of the state and corporations have steeped too far over the line in trampling on our liberty and freedoms.

The presumption that any micro aggression, protest of democratic right at a person in a profession upholding unjust laws is abuse and against the inalienable rights, freedoms and liberties is somehow immune from verbal abuse or protest in a democracy is simply not so.

No more Red Ribbon Rebellion, no miners’ strikes, no more stockade. Our rights and freedoms are being eroded by the state and federal powers at staggering pace.

We have slavery in Australia called Work for the Dole, interns and schemes and programs by government of legalised slavery and exploitation.

Yet, apparently, we should all just shut up and let state tyrants have their wicked way with us because they seem like nice, well-dressed people just doing their jobs. Well, no.

May I suggest some of you get out of the employ of Satan because you made a moral choice to work in your profession, and God holds you accountable whether you work for an abortion clinic, on Manus Island or a refugee settlement rights centre.

We all have a moral compass as individuals that tell us we are being wronged and it makes for a stronger democracy when we flex them. Grow thicker skin for God’s sake.

I’m amazed and disappointed to hear that geology is no longer offered as a key basic subject for Bendigo’s Latrobe University’s science, engineering and education courses.

Having Ag Geology (with extra mineralogy, but no fossils!) as part of our B.Ag.Sci. course at Melbourne Uni in 1947, I am ever grateful for geology and botany being part of our learning. 

They greatly assisted during my 37-year soil conservation working career and certainly enhanced our family’s “reading of the land”, especially when travelling. 

Ideally, these two subjects should also be a vital part of the secondary school curriculum. It would be good to read a response to this letter from Latrobe University.

The Andrew’s government has called for new brown coal ventures. Surprisingly, some have condemned this action.

This seems rather short-sighted when this action of the government’s resource ministry is recognition that the end for burning coal is rapidly approaching and irreversible.

Nevertheless, Victoria has an abundance of this resource that should not be wasted.

If an environmentally friendly outlet for this coal can be found, it means continuing employment and wealth generation in the mining regions, benefiting all concerned.

This state policy needs to be applauded rather than condemned for its far-sighted planning to utilise a resource for the benefit of all Victorians in a clean environmental manner.