Henry’s Howlers
SIR,- IN last week’s Mirror we saw the “Just Relections” column’s Henry Casson bolt into print in tabloid commentator mode. In his first paragraph he decried the fact that “Many current State premiers have not been democratically elected, achieving office by having the baton passed on to them through retirements and resignations (some in disgrace)”.
From this comment I can only guess that Mr Casson has, amidst the hullabaloo of the presidential campaign, confused the American system with our own. It is tree that US citizens have the right to vote for individuals for specific public offices, from that or president right through to more lowly municipal functionaries. That’s not the case here.
To take a down-to-earth example, when we vote next month at the council elections, we will be voting for canidates in one of three wards. Successful candidates, as councillors, will then choose by vote which of them is to become mayor. Unlike US voters we do not vote for a mayoral candidate directly - or for premier or prime minister, either.
Clearly all current state premiers have been democratically elected according to our system - as members of parliament. There are numerous examples of leadership changes taking place between elections, for various reasons, at state and federal levels since Federation.
Mr Casson would benefit from some remedial reading on the Australian variants of the Westminster parliamentary system before attempting more political comment.
This Mirror columinst then further undermines his credibility by quoting “the famous American radio personality, Ed Morrow” (sic). Edward R Morrow, esteemed American CBS radio correspondent in Europe during WWII, would rotate in his tomb if he was to learn he’d been associated with an article of this er, quality.
Yours etc, Geoff Favey, Foster.

GM food
SIR,- My letter to the Editor dd. 10/09/2008 was given a perfect headline: “Doomed to continuing ignorance?” It highlighted exactly what problems mankind is up to. I think we should move away from people with very impressive titles who try to make our minds up for us. “Think for yourselves!” People with impressive titles are at times connected with organisations who pursue their own self-interest, rather than that of the common people. My reason for this letter is my concern at what the powers have in store for us.
In our midst we have a very courageous lady, Dr. Barbara Hoare, who wrote some very impressive letters about GM food. The fact is that GM food in only a part of a greater picture of a conspiracy against humanity. Big Pharma - big Chemo - big Agro - Politics and also WTO (World Trade Organisation) are very involved. A branch of the WHO and the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) is the Codex Alimentarius (latin for Food Code). The Codex Alimentarius is doing the bidding of big Pharma.
The idea is to control and outlaw all natural health products, to control and set the intake of vitamins and minerals well below what is needed to stay healthy. More can be said about the sinister goal behind it all. The internet is full of useful info so are, for instance, magazines such as “NEXUS” (Codex Alimentarius /vol.15 no.6, Oct/Nov.2008) or “UNCENSORED” (The Avian Flu Virus Has Been Weaponised / vol.13 Sept-Dec.2008) which are available at Newsagencies. What is in store for us is very disturbing!
All what we are experiencing now, such as the Subprime crisis, High Oil Prices, High Food Prices, and “man-made” Global Warming, are connected and interwoven to a spidernet where a big part of the world population will get ensnared and ...?? So, it is high time that we think and stick our heads together to find ways in helping and protecting ourselves. Some of us already do this at a discussion group, which meet every Friday from 2 - 4 p.m. at the lounge of the Foster Hotel.
Our “natural” world right now is facing a “road of no return”, maybe we can do something about it!
Yours etc, Rudi Eberle, Foster.