Your editorial about sharing hardship to lighten the load was well captioned by the catch cry that “we are all in ‘this’ together.” (Our rules are not for rulers, 25/11). Little doubt, Don Harwin and Gladys Berejiklian are in a different “this”. Aussies have shown remarkable comradeship in facing the recent challenges of floods, bushfires, economic hardship, suicidal despair and plague. Those deep bonds don’t evolve from politicians. The cornerstone of our unity lies in the perpetuity of equality and mateship, firmly encrusted in the mantle of trust in each other. After apologising (to herself) for breaking her own rules, Gladys’s best tactic might be to lose her voice again. Excuses carry little weight. Going back to where this story started, a “mutating” virus that mutes politicians might be on the top of our collective Christmas wish list. Alan Sexton, North Parramatta 26Nov2020.