Populism can be a more direct form of democracy
I asked a bunch of friends, mainly Guardian or further left types: are you for or against populism? (30 November). With one exception the quick answer was against, with a number echoing the Cas Mudde kind of definition with its framing of populism as a battle between the masses and the elite.
The exception was a friend who highlighted the bottom-up authenticity of populism as a response to real or perceived economic, social or political injustices.
Populism can produce leaders of all personality types and predilections. It can drive policies that range from the simplistic to the complex, the realistic to the unrealistic. In short it is, arguably a more direct and dynamic form of democracy, warts and all.
Meanwhile, it has been weaponised, given its inherently disruptive potential within the unravelling world of centrist politics. Make of that what you will.
Stewart Sweeney
Adelaide, South Australia
Optimism on awareness of plastic was misplaced
Your article The Turn of the Tide sounded positively optimistic about the world’s growing awareness of the hazards of plastic in our environment (23 November). I, on the contrary, am thoroughly pessimistic about the effectiveness of our puny efforts to reduce its use. It will take legislation to lessen all the unnecessary packaging, and also time, and we do not have time on our side.
Banning the use of drinking straws is pathetic, but I suppose it is a beginning. Let’s get moving, quickly, on seriously returning to a world without these hydrocarbon derivatives, and dealing with their residue.
Phileen Tattersall
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Australia should help West Papua become free
George Monbiot’s fine opinion piece is a depressing reminder not only of Britain’s complicity in Indonesia’s atrocious maltreatment of West Papua – but that of successive Australian governments as well (30 November). Australian governments have long acquiesced in Indonesian oppression of West Papua (and Timor) as part of a wider strategy to help secure a non-communist post-colonial status quo in our region. We remain in denial over this cold war stain on our foreign policy.
Let’s hope the petition for West Papuan independence gets a sympathetic hearing in Britain. And if so let’s hope the Australian government follows suit.
However, in the wake of our most recent round of prime ministerial treachery, we have an even more conservative government. Given this, and the sensitivity of our relationship with Indonesia, such a turnaround seems unlikely.
Terry Hewton
Adelaide, South Australia
Tower of Pisa provides business opportunity
After reading your mention of the Tower of Pisa getting straighter (30 November) I was reminded of an incident in 1971. My husband had obtained employment with a Swiss company and we moved to Switzerland. We decided to holiday in Italy and, of course, visited Pisa.
We parked the car and a man with a ticket machine came to us asking for money. Assuming it was a parking fee, we paid him. Returning the the car park, I saw a notice saying that parking was free. I then looked at the ticket. It wasn’t a parking fee; it was insurance, in case the tower fell on our car! Now that’s what I call free enterprise.
Felicity Oliver
Ostermundigen, Switzerland
Endgame’s ending is not totally pessimistic
Regarding your Word of the Week and review of Fin de Partie (30 November): Andrew Clements suggests Endgame’s characters feel hopeless and Steven Poole tells us the play is about “apocalypse and futility”. This view of Beckett is common but is it fair? I see in Hamm and Clov not despair but vulnerability, cruelty, acceptance of fate, even moments of peace.
Near the work’s conclusion Hamm says, “The end is in the beginning and yet you go on.” Those are not the words of one who’s given up.
Gideon Forman
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
