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WHAT a choice for Republicans: Newt or Mitt. I'd vote for nowt. John Page, Glenroy
By · 25 Jan 2012
By ·
25 Jan 2012
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WHAT a choice for Republicans: Newt or Mitt. I'd vote for nowt. John Page, Glenroy

US

NEWT versus Mitt. God bless America.

Bill Burns, Mount Waverley

PLEASE tell me the American presidential election is next week. I'm already thoroughly sick of it.

Roger Farrer, Hampton

Finance

TO MY superannuation fund manager: please place my money in an Australian bank. You can get 5 per cent per annum return.

Paul Cook, Blackburn North

IT'S just as well the mining resources tax got the chop. I would have hated to see Gina Rinehart in the poorhouse.

Margaret Callinan, Balwyn

Sport

WHY can't commentators have the courtesy to pronounce players' names (e.g. ShaRApova and MaKArova) correctly? Would Ms Stubbs appreciate being called REENay?

Judith Armstrong, North Carlton

IT'S ironic that players insist on a background of silence so they can concentrate on their grunting as much as their serve.

Doug Williams, Lorne

HOLD your heads high, Lleyton Hewitt and Bernard Tomic. Winning is not just about the scoreboard.

Mandy Macmillan, South Mission Beach, Qld

Politics

IT'S amazing how politicians are accused of "spin" (Letters, 24/1) when people don't agree with them.

Ros Levy, Bentleigh East

TONY Abbott pot calling the kettle black.

Sue Bennett, Sunbury

IF GILLARD is John Howard-lite, then her initial commitment to the precommitment pokies reform was akin to a non-core promise.

Joel Feren, Elwood

Furthermore

ON MY 65th birthday, I started taking flying lessons. I'm on to circuits now and am having a great time. Mature? I hope so. Elderly (Letters, 22/1)? Never.

Carolyn Reynolds, Lake Boga

WHEN the fad fades, the tatts (Letters, 23/1) don't.

David Dolan, Caulfield North

IN BURNING the bush for fire prevention, little heed is given to the animals that burn to death or are maimed. If you must live there, wouldn't it be better to build fireproof houses?

Rowan Wigmore, Gisborne

MY spellchecker suggests that I change NAPLAN to napalm. Perhaps it's an indication of what should be done with the meaningless tests that waste students' and teachers' time.

Geoff Phillips, Wonga Park

I WONDER if readers of Dan Murphy's full-colour, full-page ad (Letters, 24/1) noticed the article about the extensive effects of alcohol abuse on the opposite page.

Peter Fagg, Blackburn

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

The piece relays a reader's view that an Australian bank could deliver about 5% p.a. as a superannuation option. That comment reflects an individual opinion in the letters page rather than investment advice. Everyday investors should treat it as a prompt to review their own superannuation strategy and to ask their fund manager about the range of account and cash options available — and whether a bank deposit approach matches their goals and time horizon.

A reader in the article celebrated the mining resources tax being scrapped, suggesting relief for major miners. That letter shows how tax policy can affect investor sentiment toward mining companies. Investors should note the letter reflects public reaction — policy changes can influence revenues and sentiment, so mining-sector investors typically watch tax and royalty developments closely when assessing exposure.

The article includes readers expressing fatigue with election coverage and comments about politicians and 'spin.' These letters highlight that politics often shapes headlines and sentiment. For investors, it's useful to separate short-term media noise from longer-term fundamentals; the letters are a reminder public opinion varies widely and political events can create market volatility rather than permanent changes to company prospects.

The comment reflects a reader's view on the strength of political commitment to pokies reform. Regulatory changes around gaming can materially affect revenues for operators and venues, so investors tracking the sector pay attention to policy signals and reform momentum. The article records public debate, which can be one input among many when monitoring regulatory risk to gaming-related investments.

That remark in the article suggests a reader believes established lottery businesses (referred to as 'tatts') have staying power even when trends change. For everyday investors, such letters illustrate public perceptions of stability around certain consumer staples or gaming services. Investors should consider whether that perceived resilience aligns with company fundamentals, market position and their own risk tolerance.

A reader noticed the juxtaposition in the publication, drawing attention to how advertising and editorial content can interact. That example in the letters page shows reputational risk can arise from associations and public perception. Investors in consumer-facing brands may want to factor reputational issues and brand sensitivity into assessments, since negative perceptions can influence customer behaviour and regulatory scrutiny.

Readers criticised commentators' pronunciation and other aspects of sports coverage, reflecting how audience experience matters. While the article records opinion rather than analysis, it signals that content quality and audience engagement are important for media and sports businesses. Investors often consider reputation, viewer trust and content standards as part of the picture when evaluating media or sports-related stocks.

The article is a collection of reader letters on varied topics — from personal finance opinions to political views and local anecdotes. These letters are valuable as snapshots of consumer and voter sentiment, but they represent individual perspectives rather than comprehensive data. Everyday investors can use them as colour on public sentiment, while relying on broader research and verified financial information for investment decisions.