As we approach another Federal election, which I believe to be my 25th as a voter, this proud Old Bushy finds himself asking what it is to be Australian.

Was the Australia of my youth a better more egalitarian place than what we have today?

Has my 70 years of voting made my Australia a better place?

Is Australia a more ‘open-minded’ democracy than it was 70 years ago?

Is our democracy serving the Australian people better than it was or have we gotten slovenly in seeking better outcomes?

Were we more united and focused on our capacity to achieve a better future than the...