Then Congress rejected pleas to regulate derivatives

Two final questions then to those who can make an immediate difference: why, Paul Keating, aren't you and other arts-loving movers and shakers insisting on the inclusion of a major theatre in our best chance for immediate change, the vast Barangaroo space? And Cate and Andrew, when will the Hickson Road restaurant and bar actually open after the show? In the article, your ''work to be done'' came across as good intentions rather than definite action. Peter Farmer Petersham Selfless solution to housing crisis I think I have the solution for Australia's housing crisis (''Mums and dads adding to the great Australian nightmare'', March 27-28). What is the problem? The problem is the market. You can't make a killing on selling the family home and also have affordable housing for your children. So the solution is to create housing outside the market. Governments could do this but won't. Who else is outside the market? Dead people. Many baby boomers are about to die childless. They could leave their houses to a foundation for affordable housing. These could be rented or leased (perhaps in perpetuity?) for the cost of maintenance plus a margin to buy more properties. This would result in a permanent (and perhaps growing) stock of housing outside the market. (Don't expect it will be popular with the developers and their political flunkies.) What would it need to succeed? A foundation - fairly easily established. A major trusted public figure (Dick Smith?) and perhaps a national media outlet to assist with publicity for the campaign (now, what could that be?) Evan Hadkins Kyle Bay Regulate or die The global financial crisis was not brought about by an increase in clever people who learnt to exploit loopholes in regulations, but because of the removal of those regulations (''Nightmare scenario: too big to fail, too quick to forget'', March 27-28). The trouble started with the Reagan deregulation in the 1980s, which resulted in the savings and loans fiasco. The next big step was repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act in 1999. Then Congress rejected pleas to regulate derivatives. Finally in 2004 the US Securities and Exchange Commission allowed investment banks to increase leverage to 40 times equity. The crisis was the inevitable result of competition without adequate rules. Canada Goose Anton Kamaralli Cooranbong The incredible shrinking O'Farrell I hope that Barry O'Farrell takes the message ''What NSW politicians must not ignore'' (March 27-28) to heart. You can make yourself so small a target that you become invisible to the voters. While the athletic pursuits of Tony Abbott and the former NSW Liberal Peter Debnam are yet to prove vote-winners, it is time for Mr Farrell and his team to reveal themselves and demonstrate that they are a real alternative government. Labor doesn't deserve another term. Despite its claims to be heading in the right direction at the last election, there is now even more to do and they seem to be running around in circles. However, if there is no genuine alternative NSW voters have shown that they will vote for more of the same. To paraphrase Oscar Wilde: to lose one unloseable election, Mr O'Farrell, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose two looks like carelessness. Philip Cooney Wentworth Falls Give the budgie smuggler a break Is it an Australian syndrome that Tony Abbott's lifestyle fitness and resultant superb shape is framed in a particularly negative and lurid narrative? His life-long commitment to health and fitness ought to be recognised as something people of all ages with career and family commitments can aspire to. He wears the practical lycra uniform of his sporting endeavours without fanfare, however uncomfortable that may be to the sedentary-inclined, or those who find the aesthetics of a fit middle-age man abhorrent. Careering between the puritanical with the calls he cover up, and the puerile with the endless budgie-themed variations, the result is one of unease and discomfort with the male body. It is unsurprising men have a package: they're gender specific.

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