In this era of monetising everything, why can’t we sell our votes?
Because in countries like mine, it’s often cheaper for those with the deepest pockets to resurrect dead voters.
R De Braganza, Kilifi, Kenya
• Do we not play a financial market when we purchase the options that politicians offer at election times, but do not necessarily honour later on?
Philip Stigger, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
• In a world that is dominated by corporate wealth our votes have little value.
Bruce Cohen, Worcester, Massachusetts, US
• Because the politicians hadn’t thought of it until you suggested it. Now you’ve done it.
David Isaacs, Sydney, Australia
• In the event of market failure the government would buy all the votes and there would be no point having an election.
Bruce Munday, Mt Torrens, South Australia
• It’s certainly worth a try, as there are plenty of places in the world where politicians appear to “buy” votes with false promises, gifts etc.
In the Kenyan village where I used to live, the mere promise of a big tea party was sufficient to account for many votes in the local election.
Margaret Wilkes, Perth, Western Australia
Rarely pure and never simple
What does the truth look and sound like?
An old hoofer singing and dancing The Best Things in Life are Free.
Richard Orlando, Westmount, Quebec, Canada
• Hollow.
Jennifer Horat, Lengwil, Switzerland
• The laws of maths and physics.
Stuart Williams, Kampala, Uganda
• A plausible lie.
Neville Holmes, Creswick, Victoria, Australia
• As Oscar Wilde remarked on the nature of truth, it is “rarely pure and never simple”.
Ursula Nixon, Bodalla, NSW, Australia
• The title of a Johnny Cash song (What Is Truth?).
Malcolm Feiner, Melbourne, Australia
She’s doing fine on her own
Why are we saving the Queen, and from what?
Save the Queen comes from Salve Regina in which the Queen is hailed, blessed and anointed, the latter referring to former times when ointment and perfume predated soap and water.
Nowadays we might say Hot Tub the Queen! or simply Bathe the Queen, but we should not confer this pious wish on all the royal family, especially given recent developments of a regal nature, lest the baby be thrown out with the bathwater.
John Pemberton, Golden Bay, New Zealand
• Since she is the longest reigning British monarch since Queen Victoria, Elizabeth II can surely take care of herself, so there is no need to save her; we must leave the Queen be.
Tijne Schols, The Hague, The Netherlands
• Traditionally from a short, inglorious reign, but after 50 years it’s from losing her marbles – and marvels such as this Commonwealth secretly hankering for its Cromwellian roots.
Colin Lendon, Canberra, Australia
• First, in order to increase our sterling bank accounts, we are obliged to save her image. Second, we save her from lese majesty and unemployment.
Anthony Walter, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Any answers?
Who benefits from medicine: the patient or the provider?
E Slack, L’Isle Jourdain, France
We all know it rains cats and dogs. Will it ever rain fish and prawns?
Terence Rowell, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
Send answers to weekly.nandq@theguardian.com or Guardian Weekly, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU, UK
