Homeless crisis deplorable
I have been an active trade unionist for many years and that is why I realise your paper is the authentic voice of labour.
It is distressing and deplorable that many thousands of people are homeless and exposed to the cold weather and rain.
I am of the opinion that a sustained campaign should be launched to induce state governments to buy unoccupied units to provide accommodation to the homeless.
It is a matter of urgency as we have two more months of winter ahead of us.
At the same time state governments should be induced to build more housing commission units for workers, students and others with unaffordable rent.
The homeless, who experience capitalism at its worst, are more likely to lend a sympathetic ear to socialist ideas when they are explained to them.
Bill Beeche,
Sydney, NSW
Norway massacre
I have been following in detail the news of Norway. There are many political facets of interest to us. One of those has been misleading reporting. Another was the attempted setting back of multiculturalism. And worst of all, I have just read a psychology professor praising the murderer's “brilliance”.
The target country had been considered so calm and peaceful that its security services were completely unprepared. This is a reminder to be vigilant for all those on the left.
Several media sources, including some that I have read here, immediately sided with the criminal. That is, they spouted a mistaken assumption that the Muslim immigrants that he had hated were responsible. We need to counter this racist trash, right away.
The exact targets of murder were not Asian immigrants — but the left-leaning government party.
Indeed, the perpetrator had been a branch official of the opposition right-wing party. His profile reminded me of a National Front party member that I had shared a taxi with in London.
The militant conservative movement that he then joined idolised the Crusaders. Yet it was the pomp of authority that he admired — rather than religion.
This far-right resurgence in Europe is obviously now at a dangerous level. The villain did not plan this alone. Rather, his manifesto mentions an international cabal of extremist colleagues.
Unfortunately, the far-right around the world is idealising this vigilante. We need therefore to vigorously oppose such tendencies here. And now obviously, we need to be brave about it too.
Bryan Kilgallin,
via email