One must ask: Where in council’s charter does it recommend or support publicity stunts?

The next question is: Who will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance cost of this building?

And how will the collection be managed and what resources will be required to curate and present to the perceived public interest?

And of course, what does the average ratepayer of Federation Shire think about this expenditure and commitment? That is assuming they were consulted.

Do we also assume that council’s economic development manager is dictating and enacting council direction? 

I had to laugh to myself when I noticed a caption in the middle of the letters and opinion page in The Border Mail (December 21) headed: “Do you have something to get off your chest? Send your letter to the editor, Border Mail, etc, etc.”

I thought it was some joke or other, so I looked at the calendar to see if they had shifted April Fool's Day. Talk about freedom of the press, and free speech, all gone forever it seems. 

With all these self-interest groups, such as the refugee crowd, multicultural society, Islamic councils, as well as all those do-gooders and bleeding hearts, that keep influencing the roll over, belly-up councils on the border with all of their wheelbarrow loads of agendas they keep hiding from the ratepayers.

Anyway, with a bit of luck there could be a change for the better with the press suddenly finding out that the Australian is being silenced from ever speaking out and democracy died at the hands of the minorities and cultural cringers that wish to fashion Australia into a left wing, socialistic, red ragging, ideology of globalisation.

But as the great Voltaire, 1778, once stated: "I may not agree with what you say, but I will fight to the death to give you the right to express them.” 

We can only hope.

Hear, hear John Brownstein (The Border Mail, January 3).

I would like to add: “Hands off whatever is left of our fragile Alpine region." RIP Mount Buller, Mount Stirling, Mount Hotham and Falls Creek, just to name a few.

How many more mountains must be sacrificed for financial greed, or will this attitude continue till there is simply nothing left for future generations?

I was reading a letter by Derek Robinson (“Accountability Please”, The Border Mail, January 2) regarding the hope placed in independent politicians to change the flow of the politics in every arena – local, state and federal levels.

I was reminded of the writings of the writer and activist George Monbiot where he believes that democracy has been eroded by corporate powers and economic distortion.

It’s where taking money from the poor and giving it to the rich (neoliberalism) is rife.

I believe that governments, CEOs and other dollar-inspired people cannot and will not improve or recognise the issue.

That is because empathy appears to be lacking.

In some it has even died.

So hopefully Mr Robinson is right in his hope that independent politicians have the courage and stamina to fight the fight of the common people.