We have seen the American College Vote system questioned, because Donald Trump won. Russia has been accused of interfering in the US Presidential election, because Donald Trump won.

The majority of Hollywood's A list actors lean heavily to the left in regard to politics.

Thus, it is no surprise at this years Golden Globe Awards that screen star Meryl Streep bags Donald Trump for making fun of a reporter with a disability.

The problem is the incident did not happen, yet Streep turned on the water factory and fake emotional sympathy to receive a standing ovation.

The elite-left in Hollywood and the media are just a bunch of Hillary cry babies who refuse to accept the verdict of Trump's landslide win.

Adrian Devlin, Fairy Meadow

Once, long ago, the populace believed the men who led their country, or their faith, were the best of all; often as not, chosen by God or the gods, and therefore, incorruptible.

Now of course we know better. Barely a day goes by without reports of corruption within the public sector – taxpayer-funded trips, New Year’s Eve parties, and much worse; corruption within institutions, sporting bodies, corporations, unions, and the churches.

Pope Francis recently issued a statement condemning the perpetrators of sexual abuse within the Catholic church, quoting the proverb, “Corruptio optimi pessima” (Corruption of the best is the worst of all). I think we all agree with this.

Australia, to its shame, has been slipping on the worldwide Corruption Perceptions Index, compiled by Transparency International.

Formerly among the top ten countries, its reputation has fallen from sixth position in 2012, to 13th.

The federal government has failed to tackle criminal corruption across a wide range of offenders, concentrating instead on individual issues, such as the building industry and ABCC.   

It has been suggested that an Australian serious fraud and corruption office be created, like those of Britain and New Zealand.

It would need to have the power to investigate corruption and fraud involving senior commonwealth officials, including parliamentarians, rather than these being handled internally by government.

Previous efforts to develop a national anti-corruption plan have never seen the light of day, but until such a body is created, corruption will only spread and grow.

Barbara Cattunar, Wollongong

I think we all know that around half of all Christians around the world celebrate Christmas on 7 January, not 24 or 25 December, each year.

And I was disappointed to discover, in this multicultural city, in this multicultural country, that businesses and councils everywhere took their Xmas decorations down and packed them away for another year, just after New Years Day, around the 3rd of the new year.

Why could we not respect our shared heritage, in deed and not just in blabber, by actually acknowledging that other people do things differently?Why could we not have left all Xmas decorations up until after 7 January, thereby  honouring our fellow Christians' Christmas traditions.

If we have to accept the frankly ridiculous and self-aggrandising customs that we see now every day in the streets of our erstwhile reasonable community, then let us also accept 7 January as an alternate Xmas Day for millions of Christians and keep our Xmas deco's up to show that respect.

Martina Thiele, Warrawong