...AND ANOTHER THING

Politics

I WONDER what the Syrian residents of Homs make of all the petty leadership squabbles plaguing the Labor Party.

Joel Feren, Elwood

I DIDN'T much like Vegemite in the first place. Now I detest it.

Myra Mortensen, Toorak

WHERE was media frenzy when "core and non-core promise" John Howard involved us in the bloodshed of Iraq, based on the lie of "weapons of mass destruction"?

Joan Boyd, St Kilda

JULIA Gillard is the Liberals' best asset. Don't go, Julia, we would miss you.

Geoff Seidner, East St Kilda

DID Julia Gillard pinch Michelle Grattan's cornflakes one morning?

Frankie Rowlands, Mount Dandenong

The economy

I ASSUME union secretary Leon Carter and his members drive only Australian-made cars and wear only Australian-made clothes or is it only bank workers' jobs that should not be exported (The Age, 15/2)?

Dave Torr, Hoppers Crossing

GERMANY'S success is attributed to its local manufacturing servicing niche areas. Victoria can make and use trains here but our government misses this great opportunity.

Beverley Broadbent, East Brighton

AS USUAL, Ross Gittins is right on the money (Comment, 15/2). With unemployment holding steady at 5.2 per cent, why the spin?

Andrew Remington, Travancore

Health system

WHY not means test patients using the public health system as well. Maybe that will stop the abuse of the public health system.

Merilyn Tabor, Point Lonsdale

THE health insurance rebate has not benefited members, rich or poor. All the rebate and more has been captured by health providers and insurers.

Forbes Sprawson, Hampton

Banks

IF YOU have superannuation, you are a shareholder in at least one bank.

Lee Matthews, St Kilda

THERE seems to be a lot of anguish about the big banks' profits. Imagine the anguish if they were losing money and failed. Remember the State Savings Bank of Victoria.

Alan Harrison, Mornington

Finally

GERMAN financial administration of Greece would be the surest way to save the Greek economy and protect European economies.

Russell Blyth, Berwick

THE Paris Metro I know, Lisa Dooley (14/2), isn't sparkling clean. It is rickety, grubby, filthy, dangerous, and stiflingly hot.

David Thomson, St Kilda