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Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Try to keep letters to fewer than 150 words. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: letters@globeandmail.com

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A BoC exit(s)?

Re BoC Sends Mixed Message On Economy (July 14): I wonder if the Bank of Canada's low interest policy has offloaded economic growth on Gen X and millennials.

Those who rely on the interest-rate return from savings to fund retirement are receiving far less than expected. Plus, two classes of millennials have been created. Those with crippling house mortgages – and those who have no hope of ever owning a house. The BoC might be surprised if there were an option for an exit vote.

Ron Renwick, Lethbridge, Alta.

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"Mixed" message? I'd describe Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz's message as "confused" or even "misleading."

Exports recovering, but disappointing; U.S. economy stronger, but investment weaker, etc., etc.

Then Mr. Poloz references the out-of-control real estate markets in Vancouver and Toronto, but in his wisdom, decides to leave the central bank's interest rate at 0.5 per cent, which is encouraging the kind of mortgage rates that lure first-time buyers to jump in (often over their heads).

With this kind economic insight and understanding, how does he manage to keep his job?

Bruce Walker, Oakville, Ont.

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Obama's words

A very big thank you to The Globe and Mail for publishing President Barack Obama's full speech at the memorial service in Dallas for five slain police officers (The President's Speech – Folio, July 13). We often only get small glimpses of meaningful words in the newspaper or other news reporting. This speech should be heard and read by many and taken to heart.

Brenda Carr, Stratford, Ont.

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Are we so bereft of Canadian news that Canada's national newspaper needed to fill two pages with the full text of President Barack Obama's speech?

Mark Knudsen, Mississauga

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Congratulations for printing Barack Obama's entire speech. It is by far the most statesmanlike, eloquent and inspiring address I have ever heard from him – or any contemporary leader.

It ranks among the great speeches and should be mandatory reading for anyone in a position of power or authority.

While the message was obviously directed at the United States, a number of comments apply equally to Canada, in particular as it relates to our handling of aboriginal issues.

Steve Moors, Pointe Claire, Que.

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Racial platitudes

Kudos to Margaret Wente for having the courage to discuss the real issues regarding police killings in the United States (There Is No 'War' On Blacks – Or Cops – July 12). Too many African-Americans are being killed by police in the United States, but surely it is also worth mentioning that there are considerably more than twice as many non-blacks being killed by police there, too. Is it fair to say that Lives matter?

Bernard Lahey, Montreal

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I wish Black Lives Matter would consider changing its name to Black Lives Matter, Too. Or, to be even clearer, I'd like to suggest to them that they consider changing it to: Not Only White Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter, Too. As names of movements go, it's kind of clunky. But it would mean that they wouldn't have to constantly respond to those who feel the need to proclaim that "All Lives Matter" whenever they hear the organization's name.

I, for one, would be very happy not to have to hear that sanctimonious platitude any more.

Judy Minden, Toronto

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Transit? It's primal

Re Toronto Approves Planning For Raft Of Transit Projects (July 14): Your headline evokes a primal scream, then the eyes glaze over. The relief line, Smart Track, the Scarborough subway versus the LRT. And on and on.

Now, it seems some kind of dubious consensus has been reached, but then political decisions are often dubious: $3.2-billion is a steep price to pay for a one-stop subway. The Panama Canal recently opened another shipping lane for $5.4-billion. (Don't think Bombardier had any part in that expansion.)

Helen Godfrey, Toronto

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Far down the list

Re Referendum Angst (letters, July 13): A letter writer characterizes electoral reform as "the most important change to our democracy in 150 years."

I disagree. The most important change was probably the introduction of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The second-most important change was the patriation of the Constitution. The third would be giving votes to women.

Electoral reform does not involve any conceptual change in our democracy. It is simply an attempt to make the reality of representative democracy look more like the concept by removing the distortions caused by the current first-past-the-post system.

Andrew Hodgson, Ottawa

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Out of Africa

Re Canada Seeks Peacekeeping Role In Africa (July 14): Given its increased NATO commitments, if the government wants to commit to "peacekeeping" in Africa, I would hope that it is prepared to increase defence spending.

What has been ongoing in Africa is not traditional "peacekeeping" – that died in the killing fields of the Balkans and Rwanda in the 1990s. If Canada decides to send troops to Mali (or elsewhere in Africa), it should only be on the basis of a well-armed battle group, equipped with armoured vehicles, artillery and attack helicopters, and with robust rules of engagement.

Obtaining a two-year term on the UN Security Council is a vanity project. Is it worth the lives of Canadian Armed Forces members? Our government can engage in other ways if it really wants to help the oppressed in Africa.

Bertram Frandsen, major (retired), Ottawa

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Trump v. Ginsburg

Re Trump Calls On Ginsburg To Resign For Her 'Dumb' Statements (July 14): At the Nuremberg Trials, many German jurists were excoriated, and rightly so, for remaining silent during the outrageous behaviour of the criminal Nazi regime.

While it's hardly a direct analogy, against that history, we should be able to better understand why U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg felt disposed to speak out about the Republican Party's presumptive nominee for the presidency of the United States, an outspoken racist who, inter alia, is on the record extolling the virtues of dictators and autocrats.

Al Lando, Toronto

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Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg called Donald Trump a "faker" who "really has an ego" – words that took her outside the judicial cone of silence and into the political arena.

It seems that searching-for-the-truth business gets to be a habit with good judges. Judge Ginsburg has since promised to be more discreet. Please, say it ain't so.

Karen O'Neill, St. John's

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