Dear David,

I think you are one of the most reasonable posters on
this forum. I enjoy reading what you have to say.
I enjoy discussions where people disagree but are
well-matched in their arguments. It's like watching a
good game of chess.

I enjoy shows like QandA and Insiders - that have panel
members with different views.

Dear David,

There's an interesting story that I found on the web.
We're told that:

"When Michael Reagan attended the 2004 funeral of his
father, former US president Ronald Reagan, the man
sitting behind him, he recalls, was the last leader
of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev."

Michael Reagan recalled Gorbachev telling him that:

"Every time my father and him met, my father would
always end every meeting with "If it's God's will."
And Mikhail Gorbachev would say to me, "I would look
around the room to see if God was there."

"Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, capitalist and
communist were an unlikely pairing. But their series of
high profile summits have been praised for helping to
end the cold war. Together they negotiated a landmark deal
in 1987 to scrap intermediate-range nuclear missiles."

I believe that even Margaret Thatcher had said that she
could do business with Gorbachev.

Which goes to show - how things can work - given a chance.

I think Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev could think beyond what benefits them and their interests. I don't think Trump can.

Dear David,

Trump scares the daylights out of me.

Any idea what's preventing cross party friendships? Is it just intolerance? Or is something else involved?
Would having a common enemy help? I'm reminded a bit of the '90s British TV drama An Independent Man (starring George Cole, who's better known for paying Arthur Daley)

_______________________________________________________________________________

Paul,
Another version of that story (the original AFAIK) was told by Billy Connolly. His version was set at an Old Firm Derby. The Celtic fans go to one end of the stadium, the Rangers fans to the other end. Someone gets drunk and accidentally goes to the wrong end...

Dear Aidan,

Cross-party friendships do exist. As David pointed out -
they're usually made up of people who're capable of
thinking beyond the box. And as Ronal Reagan said:

"There's no limit to the amount of good you can do
if you don't care who gets the credit."

Can you name an Australian politician with such a mindset?

I may be wrong but to me our current PM comes to mind.
At least he's trying to unite people.