Perth Voice Interactive

Bucket wish
I WRITE in response to the lengthy glowing assessment of the Lord Mayor of Perth, Ms Scaffidi, by an obviously awestruck Ron Willis (Voice Mail, June 15, 2013).
At the risk of angering her excited admirer, can I suggest the almost perfect Ms Scaffidi forsake some of her photo opportunities and get out onto the very dirty streets, footpaths and malls of our once beautiful city and make a critical assessment of what needs to be done.
As an example, let me briefly describe a visit I made to downtown Los Angeles some time back.
I was amazed at the lack of litter, graffiti and unsightly stains on the footpaths, malls and subways and I wondered why that should be so.
Then I came across a little man armed with a bucket of hot soapy water and a sturdy broom vigorously scrubbing the dirty areas.
Problem solved!
Perhaps Ron could join our “honourable lady”, the eminent Lord Mayor, and perhaps take a bucket and broom to help her out.
K Laffer
Freedman Rd, Menora
The Ed says: Now you’ve done it.

Axe the authority
MANAGEMENT of our ancient and treasured Kings Park should be transferred to Perth city council.
It’s blatantly obvious from “Easton tree removed” (Voice, June 15, 2013) the park needs tender loving care.
The attitude to Mrs Barbara Campbell is heart-stopping.
Euphemistic “removal” of the Easton tree apart, how will the Lords of the Park prevent people spreading there the ashes of their loved ones?
Some axing of authority cannot be soon enough.
Willie Glencorse
Brown St, East Perth

Seriously
IF we want to be serious about ending the various divides and to wipe out their inherent unfortunate impacts then we have to move in various affirmative actions in order to ensure democracy.
Only in this striving for equality will we reduce the gender divide, racist divides, and class divides.
The supposition of the will of the people is not the equivalent of the constitution of democracy. Governments and referenda that depend on a majority vote, whether first-past-the-post or preferential, have failed to induce democracy. They’ve formented division and furthermore have failed to understand the will of the people as a whole-of-the-people..
To ensure democracy we require the representation of all of the people in government. Democracy requires an informed citizenry, and the eroding of monopoly politics. This is achieved by affirmative actions which ensure proportional representation.
For instance, a truly equal Australia would allocate 75 of its 150 House of Representative seats to women and 75 to men. Similarly with the Senate and once again with all state jurisdictions. This too must be the case at all layers of government—councils must affirm half their seats to women, half to men.
Similarly, proportional representation should ensure mandatory representation of Aboriginal peoples in the Senate and the House of Representatives, and similarly in state and territory jurisdictions.
The will of the people is diminished when all the people are not represented. We remain a long way from democracy.
Gerry Georgatos
Forrest St, Bridgetown
The Ed says: And how many reserved male seats will be reserved for males of Anglo background, for those of Anglo background who are gay, for those of Anglo background who are gay with one leg? Reserving seats for certain groups (we note Burma does it for its military) hampers, not enhances, democracy, Gerry. Let voters choose who they want.

Magical trees
CURTAINS? Pass. I’m a Sundance Kid. Winter’s dawn awakens me.
Through my second-floor bedroom window, and without leaving my bed, I see frenzied activity around the crown of a neighbour’s towering evergreen.
Tiny honeyeaters take breakfast. They disturb insects, then in briefly weaving flurries catch them against a red-gold sunrise.
The tree helps give my neighbour privacy while hosting a magical show.
Shuddering thought: of the day the neighbour might leave and a newcomer axes the tree. This nothing less than a crime against humanity. So much more than a tree at stake.
Eventually, I swing from bed. Blunder to my kitchen, grateful there’s no need these days to go out hunting breakfast.
Soo-oh good to have the Voice campaigning for trees to be cherished.
Bill Proude
First Ave, Mt Lawley

Yip yip yip
WISTFULLY remembered—times at dawn or dusk when one could mosey around Mount Lawley’s blissful streets.
No longer. Every other property now seems to boast a yapping midget monstrosity with a Baskerville complex. Dignity prevents my prompting a Voice headline: Woman bites dog. What might be done, then?
Is one within the law to shoot a yappist with a soapy-water pistol?
Gudonya — perhaps?
Peta Jacqui Curzon
Clifton Cres, Mt Lawley