Hope for 2017 flying in the face of reality
It's heartening to note from your editorial ("The year when outsiders became insiders", December 31) that your glass is half full. This is despite the uncertainties awaiting us in 2017 a few examples of which were highlighted by you, including Brexit, Donald Trump becoming CEO of America on January 20, the global economy generally and Australia's in particular.
I believe uncertainty deals the ultimate blow to most. Some examples are: Manus Island refugees' uncertainness of their future was cited as the major cause for refugees committing suicides; the uncertainty of a medical operation for a life-threatening illness; the uncertain state of the economy taking a harsh toll on couples and families; the list goes on.
It is therefore heartening to note that the Herald is entering 2017 with a half-full glass: "2017 will be better than 2016 because it cannot be worse".
I believe 2017 will be one of the most uncertain years for most, and hopefully the encouraging words in your editorial will bring some hope to those who are suffering under this demonic phenomena called uncertainty.
Tony Moo North Sydney
The Herald editorial held out the hope that "2017 will be better than 2016 because it cannot be worse". I suggest that 2017 can and will be worse than 2016 unless we mobilise public opinion to confront the unambiguous wrongs cited in that editorial. Good intentions and resolutions are not sufficient of themselves.
![The 12am New Year's Eve fireworks on Sydney Harbour, viewed from Mrs Macquarie's Chair.](/web/20170103214111im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/k/b/d/g/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtkdde.png/1483422675576.jpg)
We cannot afford to ditch effective action on global warming; we should not allow Peter Dutton to "excuse away unthinkable behaviour behind detention centre closed doors"; we should oppose any weakening of hate speech laws and budget repair should not be seen as an optional extra. All of these are symptoms of moral cowardice. The righting of these wrongs is neither contestable nor negotiable.
We need to make a united stand letting our elected representatives know that they will pay the ultimate political price for the good they do not do.
![Illustration: David Pope](/web/20170103214111im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/j/o/5/y/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtkdde.png/1483277218605.jpg)
Mark Porter New Lambton
The Herald's editorial cheers on underdog victories over the past year saying "cutting down tall poppies" and "we love a good upset." But it fails to acknowledge the iconic 35 per cent primary vote swing against the NSW National Party in November's iconic Orange by-election.
Herald editorials state the Herald is "Independent Always" but this list is sadly lacking in its failure to correctly list Orange as one of the most major "tall poppies cut down." The Herald states another example is the Premier's "victory to the ultimate underdogs, the racing greyhounds".
In omitting Orange,and the Nationals loss when their party had held the seat for 69 years and then naming Premier Baird's victory on greyhounds is a bit of loose journalism. Apart from Orange, the editorial fails to reveal the fact that the greyhound issue is still being discussed and is not yet resolved. Scarcely a victory when it led to Premier Baird's embarrassing backdown after he had called for a total greyhound racing ban.
Jacquie Tuck Mosman
Your New Year's Eve editorial asserts that 2017 must be better than 2016 because "it cannot be worse". So, no possible combination of death, famine, war and conquest could trump the death of some celebrities and two election defeats for progressives?
John Sexton Petersham
Saturday's editorial fills me with the hope that 2017 cannot, as suggested, be worse than 2016. At least the Aussie cricketers ended the year on a high note so let's hope; that this is a good omen to herald in a truly happy new year for all.
Denis Suttling Newport Beach
Your conclusion that 2017 cannot be worse than 2016 recalls the consensus view expressed in 1914 that "the war will be over by Christmas". Hope flying in the face of reality. Politically, socially and economically the world is in a state of increasingly dangerous discord and uncertainty. I'll bet London to a brick that 2017 will be a monster.
Peter Thomas Rose Bay
Reading the New Year's Eve editorial, "The year when outsiders became insiders", I was disappointed to find no reference to either Eddie Obeid or Roger Rogerson as both had made the transition.
Bill Carpenter Bowral
Jon English deserved inclusion in fireworks homage
I must congratulate the Foti family on yet another spectacular New Year's fireworks presentation in Sydney and in doing so also thank them for "paying homage" to David Bowie, Prince and Gene Wilder.
I am however very disappointed to note that not one Australian singer was recognised. When Fortunato Foti was questioned as to why George Michael wasn't recognised, he said that the segment was finalised in September 2016, some three months prior to his death. This I fully understand. The same reasoning could not have been said about our own king of talent Jon English, who died in March 2016. Jon was not included in the "homage" during the fireworks and furthermore he hardly received a mention in any of the commentators columns during the week leading up to the 2016 fireworks.
Never fear Jon, as the former managing director of PolyGram, your record company, I shall always remember you. R.I.P
Ross Barlow Bayview
My hope for 2017 is for a move back toward co-operation and civility after a year in which divisiveness played too ugly and frequent a role.
What unites us as human beings is immeasurably more significant than petty differences of skin colour, creed and culture which have been seized upon by the likes of Donald Trump, and here, Hanson and Bernardi, for political gain.
If our existence were threatened – say from an asteroid heading our way – humankind would immediately drop its squabbling over minor dissimilarities to unite and co-operate for sheer survival's sake. So, while the free world will miss the assuring, calm and rationality of Barack Obama it is to be hoped those fabulous fireworks over Sydney Harbour might usher in the dawn of a new era in which co-operation, truth (not post-truth lies) fairness and equality of opportunity prevail.
Ron Sinclair Bathurst
Bernardi and Abbott jockey for most deluded mantle
It has become a truism and a national burden that there is an inverse relationship between the level of narcissism in politicians and their inability to recognise their personal quackery. So many of them seem to live in small, hypocritical and delusional worlds of their own making; none more so than Cory Bernardi and Tony Abbott ("Bernardi accuses Abbott of stoking division", December 31-January 1).
With his eyes still on the top job and afraid that his support base might splinter, Abbott has employed his usual bully-boy tactic to pull Bernardi back into line by publicly accusing him of crude populism and "doing a Trump"; then Bernardi, fragile ego bruised, sulks and denounces his "Captain" for his divisiveness and "backing the horse of self-interest".
How astute is that? And what a delicious little spat from the Opus Dei clique. Ah, the best laid plans of power-hungry pollies and self-indulgent serpents. May both selfish schemers end up losing what they are so desperately pursuing.
Bert Candy Glenvale
Gay hasn't a clue how to cut road toll
I can think of no better example of the wilful blindness of our state government than the response of Roads Minister Duncan Gay to the statistics showing an increase in the number of deaths on our roads ("Minister promises to tackle alarming rise in NSW road toll", December 31). His answer is simply to increase the penalties for those who break the law.
Instead of wasting billions of dollars on WestConnex it could spend the money on public transport, thus encouraging people to leave their cars at home and trust professional drivers to get them to their destination.
Ian Edwards Glebe
Duncan Gay will need to look to many interacting influences to overcome the NSW road toll. While fines and education will reach some, there are many cultural influences seemingly contributing to driver attitudes.
In my area, it is common to see parents parking in No Stopping zones while on the school run. And aggressive driving is not uncommon. Young children learn from their parents that this is how one drives.
Peter Thompson Killara
Don't build on sand
When I bought a house for my family in Bathurst, I gave consideration to three major issues: will it be affected by flood, will it be affected by bush fire, will it be affected by land instability. ("Land owners anxious at laws to target beach erosion", December 31-January 1).
The answer to these questions was NO.
I took these precautions to remove my family and its asset from the need to go "cap in hand" to the state.
I do not feel comfortable propping-up someone who builds in a potentially dangerous location. An example of this is some beach-front houses. In particular, the beach-front houses at Collaroy during an east coast low last year.
It is important people take responsibility for their decisions and not rely on others to get them out of trouble.
John Cuppaidge Bathurst
Baby boomers have paid their dues
I'm sick of the bleating about baby boomers taking opportunities away from younger people ("Baby boomers reshaping the city", December 31–January 1). The government can fix this easily if they're serious – first, by forcing business hubs to relocate to the outer suburbs and, second, by forcing developers to build affordable housing in inner and middle-ring suburbs.
Working families in Redfern should not be kicked out and replaced by millionaires as happened in Millers Point. It's time the government put workers before developers' donations and stopped blaming everyone else for the problems they caused themselves.
Baby boomers have kept the state going for the past 55 years. They have paid their dues.
Jeannette Tsoulos West Pymble
So we baby boomers in nice suburbs threaten "to put added pressure on the city's infrastructure"?
Give us a break.
Who is going to do bushcare? Watch the local streams? Monitor the health of our creeks? Keep the community informed about local issues? Run Rotary's secondhand bookshop? Organise Lions' festivals? Keep local community services going? Arrange guest speakers for monthly flora and fauna, and local history and heritage meetings? Facilitate meetings to discuss climate change?
And keep an eye on the new council to keep our suburb nice?
Because most young ones are too busy working to pay off their mortgages. And more recently, to just save for a deposit.
Anne Wagstaff Oatley
Famous last herds
BBC obituaries editor Nick Serpill says there are more celebrities dying every year because there are simply more of them ("There are more celebrities dying. And it's only going to get worse", December 31-January 1). But I'd like to propose the theory of peak celebrity.
In an era when all you need to do to be called a celebrity is win a singing competition, know how to cook or be handed a rose, in years to come we simply won't remember who today's celebrities are. Already I can barely remember last year's.
So while the rate of celebrity deaths may indeed get worse for a few years yet, pretty soon we'll find ourselves in a time when there's no one to remember. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or bad, but it might make a year's passing a bit less depressing.
Simon Hoyle Mosman
Here's to Clover
This churlish annual non-story ("Clover's "old mates NYE party"", December 31-January 1) is all the worse for quoting as its main sources two City of Sydney councillors whose own contributions to the city are minimal and most often negative: the ALP's simpering whinger Linda Scott and the Libs' toothless attack dog Christine Forster (who nevertheless slurped the booze and gummed her way through the snacks while dancing the night away).
Far from being a multi-million dollar snouts-in-trough party for the elite (which is what Sydney Opera House is proposing to do next NYE) the most famous guest – and rightly honoured for her huge contribution to Sydney's civic good – was the SMH's very own Kate McClymont. Another "face" was that of Adam Spencer – also someone who makes a positive contribution. Anthony Albanese enjoyed the fireworks too by the look of him. There were also winners of charity events and raffles as well as community workers from all over the City – not a fat cat biz person, entrepreneur or dodgy identity to be seen.
Why not report on the peaceful, secure and happy atmosphere of a well organised event for well over a million people of all ages, colours and creeds that brings into Sydney more dollars and goodwill than could ever be spent. Enough of the bah humbug already.
Diana Simmonds Paddington
Proud to be a Dalrymple
In springing to the defence of the Dalrymple name, both current and historical, Gary Dalrymple (Letters, December 31-January 1) overlooked one matter, at least, in the Scottish connection.
It was Dalrymple, the then Earl of Stair, who was the chief architect and instigator of the Massacre of Glencoe.
The opprobrium routinely heaped on the Campbell name for the massacre denotes lamentable ignorance of the total affair.
John Dillon Kiama
Gosh Garry, you've even made me proud of the Dalrymple name (Letters, December 31-January 1).
Rosemary O'Brien Georges Hall
Spuds r us
Enough of the weighing up and chewing over of the Idaho bloke driving the Pontiac (Letters, December 31). He is not a king or starchy stiff neck. He is just a common Spud, without drive or motivation.
Joy Cooksey Harrington
All eyes are on young Kipfler but my guess is the Dutch will cream it.
Julie Robinson Cardiff
Play on
Game, set and cash to Seven West Media! ("Tennis crisis over $200m Seven deal," December 31)
Don Carter Oyster Bay