Government-funded subversives.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)

SIR: Hooray for Frank Devine's attack on that intellectual broiler house, the ABC! More than half a century ago, H.L. Mencken put his finger on what is still the cultural cancer in the ABC: "most intellectuals and artists denigrate their countrymen. They see it as their role to provoke, insult and create controversy. They exist to challenge the complacent status quo."

There is no doubt in my mind that the ABC sees its role as "to provoke, insult and create controversy". There are already enough government funds going into the Australia Council to satisfy this desire without the ABC adding its bit.

My unpopular view is that as the Corporation is funded by public money, the rules governing its behaviour, and accountability, should be more stringent than the rules commercial corporations are obliged to follow. They only have to be accountable to their shareholders and the stock exchange.

It's "your ABC", but it clearly doesn't see itself as answerable to anyone.

Its bobbing and weaving like a punch-drunk boxer when asked questions by the then minister responsible for it to parliament make very unpalatable reading. If any other federal entity behaved remotely in this cavalier way, we could be sure that Australia's sourpuss, Bob Brown, would be on air demanding a royal commission, or at least a Senate enquiry, preferably chaired by himself. But never of the ABC, because he is their darling.

Politicians of all stripes should not allow themselves to be attacked by this government entity. They should not respond in an understated and calm way. They should respond in kind. There is no future for politicians being reasonable with the ABC. "With respect" isn't working. Respect is not what the ABC deserves. A legal training may be good for well chosen words, but Australians see the unfortunate and contradictory contrast of politicians behaving in an agreeably robust way in parliament, and then in a supine way on the box.

This two-faced approach is undermining the voters' confidence in their politicians, and it's completely unnecessary anyway. What's needed are large doses of good old Aussie thumping, such as "Don't you try bullying me", "Don't take your aggressions out on me", and "Say that again and I'll sue you"! Over the years I've had a good deal of success with these statements.