Sadly, have to agree with most of this.
Alan B.

"It was just a boring time".

And this bloke has added to the boredom with his sermons.

Dear Mr Compton,

Thank You for your article and expressed thoughts.
I am glad that you're not completely down-hearted
and do see some light at the end of the tunnel.
It's not all doom and gloom though as far as I
can see. Yes, some dreadful things did happen -
but hopefully we shall learn from them and move on
towards a better future. Hopefully we shall find
solutions that suit us and we will correct the
current mess that we're in. We must deal with
the things that you mentioned in order to move
forward as a free, fair, and vibrant society.

I have no doubt that we can find the solutions that
suit us, provided we do not succumb to the siren
calls of demagogues, charlatans, and ideologues.

I believe that the best years for our country are
still in front of us.

With Trump in the White House, a boring year was the best we could have realistically hoped for.

Oh Everald-Smetherald

As you get bitter, swisted and decrepit at "87", you're sure to be bored.

I found the theatre of the attempted Dutton-Abbott takeover of Turnbull's government to be most stimulating.

The last minute save by blokey-chokey ScoMo topped it off.

But sadly the loss of the pert, svelte, feisty, fit, comely, on-the-ball, answer to my fantasies, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was the main casualty of the year.

Enjoy http://youtu.be/3F2spCoYN90?t=35s

Thank you for raising my shared hope, Everald, when you wrote:
"My hope is that, over the next decade, we will see the demise of the Liberals, Labor Nationals and Greens and their replacement by two new Parties.
One must be CENTRE RIGHT, without any arch conservatives and without the support of corrupt public companies and those who are wealthy enough to buy favours.
The other must be CENTRE LEFT, without Trade Union involvement.
Both must have no ideologues in their ranks, just efficient managers of the economy and compassionate leaders of a cohesive society."

The time is past for old ideas and motives to dominate our policy making - we need fresh, imaginative representative who remain answerable to us for every decision. They're out there - we just have to give then the job by electing them.