Here's a letter of thanks to Margo, of which we receive many, but for one reason or another Margo insisted be a blog

Hi Margo

Thanks very much for the 'Not Happy John' stickers - we are on a campaign of sticking them around Fremantle. In fact we recently went to see Germaine Greer at UWA and gave her one which she said she was going to stick on her Avis rent-a-car.

It's amazing how much energy your book has helped to create. Thanks

Emma

If you are a fan of what Howard and Nelson are doing to Australian Education please disregard this. If you have had enough, please help us to spread the word of www.dearjohn.org by forwarding this page to other academic and letting students know about this site.

Dear John was initiated by young Australian designers interested in how, in these post-political times, they could motivate their peers to defeat Howard in the upcoming elections. From the beginning the site set out to explore new communication strategies for engaging young people in conversations about politics. Although united by a common agenda to defeat Howard, the designers do not push which party to vote for, but use free downloads of t-shirt transfers, screen savers, badges and stickers to get young people sharing and talking about socio-political issues.

Central to the idea behind Dear John is the notion that networked communities will use the internet, email and mobile

Dear Margo

Read your book with zest. If there are later editions, please correct Harry Heidelberg (Page 365) where he says Murdoch started at the Advertiser in Adelaide. It was of course at The News in Adelaide.

Best wishes
Phil Robins

Time to Go John! film night

Dear Margo

We are inspired by Fahrenheit 9/11. We are exasperated and angry Australian filmmakers. And we have come together to create a feature length film of short documentaries, animations and political satires exposing the life, lies and crimes of 'honest John's' government.

Time to go John! The documentary that reminds you of the nightmare John Howard wants you to forget.

Fundraising opportunity for Not Happy John campaign. The Not Happy John Campaign can run an easy to organise fundraising film night screening this exciting and pertinent new film. There are two ways to do this.

Method 1 - Community Theatre Screening
Many community centres/libraries have a 'video projector'. Simply attach your home DVD player to the projector and voila - you have an instant film night.

Method 2 - House Party
Organise a fundraising dinner/cocktails/luncheon and screen the DVD on your home TV to the group attending the event.

Y

Excellent site for people in Wentworth.

www.turnbull-last.com

On Tuesday 7 September 2004 both major political parties jumped up and down about how each of their tax policies will give tax relief to low income earners.

Now, what happens to pensioners who don't receive enough income to pay income tax directly, but pay tax indirectly through the goods and services tax (GST)?

Our pensions increase according to the CPI, but we cannot control the price increases in supermarkets and places where we have to buy food and get other services. These prices go up and up, and our incomes don't but as the cost of everything goes up, so does the amount of GST on everything.

Result? Pensioners are losers yet again! Is anybody offering relief? Are pensioner bodies screaming their collective heads off??

Not a murmur from anyone at all!!

Greetings from Far North Queensland! I am in the seat of Leichhardt which is safe territory for the PM. It was a seat that went Liberal in 1996 and has remained so ever since. I don't see a lot of Liberal disaffection here but there most certainly is back down in Sydney. In Wentworth, it is most certainly the case that people are Not Happy, Malcolm! The Turnbull - King stoush will be particularly interesting to follow.

I've been saying for a long time that Howard tends to 'piss on the core while buttering up the marginals'. I'd guess that most Liberals in Wentworth are relatively moderate in a more traditional Liberal sense. Turnbull doesn't in any way represent the Liberals of Wentworth. It will be very important that all true Liberals vote for King to send a message to the hierarchy that it's not OK to steamroll locals. Besides, independent 'conservative' candidates (eg Andren and Windsor in NSW) are usually better behaved and more ethical than the 'real' thing.

Today's local papers are carrying a story that the Ryde City Council, which covers most of the Bennelong electorate, is upset at Andrew Wilkie's signs and plans to take them down. Now while his signs were put up early, under State Environmental Planning Policy No 60, temporary signs 'for' a 'political .. event' do not require council approval if they are displayed no more than 28 days before the event, so if the council touches such signs after Friday, it will be they who will be breaking the law.

I have spoken to the Mayor, and he tells me that they interpret 'for... a political... event' to mean it has to advertise the event. They are on very shaky ground here, since 'for' is a term of wide import that can import anything relating to the event, and the constitutional right to freedom of political speech would weigh in favour of a wide interpretation.

Nevertheless, the Mayor has said he will be instructing his people to take them down and if we want

I just finished your book 'Not Happy, John' and very quickly wanted to say thanks to you for having the courage and conviction to write it. I have never been politically motivated or involved but have increasingly become disenchanted with the way our democracy and society has headed over the last 8 years. Your book was my first step in taking a more active role in our democracy. I will continue to get more informed, more active, and further involved.

Even though I didn't read the book I am still not happy John.

I am the Citizens Electoral Council candidate for Robertson (Gosford) area.

An investment in Margo's book is an investment in your future, it is essential reading for every Australian citizen, avoid any complacency on this, make no mistake, a vote for Howard is a vote for Bush, Blair and Howard Inc. I don't need to say anything further, this book speaks for itself.

Regards,
Nicholas Tomlin.

G'day. Sorry to be so long out of action on NHJ, and thanks to Harry, Antony, Jack and Hamish for keeping the site going (Polly Bush will join the team soon). They've done a great job - according to The Australian's Christine Jackman in Tuesday's paper: 'In Queensland last week, nothappyjohn.com.au (run by journalist Margo Kingston) hit No. 1 on the Top 10 political websites charts compiled by Hitwise.' Thanks!! I've got a new, limited supply of NHJ stickers, so if you'd like some email me at [email protected] with your postal address and the number you can usefully use. MAINTAIN THE HOPE!

I've had a couple of people very generously offer money. The fact is, we have none and don't really want any just now. We don't have a bank account.

But money is important, and for those with the itch to put some dough into beating Howard, there's plenty of options. John Valder is taking donations for his unique campaign to unseat Howard in Bennalong. All candidates need money so if you think your local is a good'n and has a chance of making an impact, send 'em a cheque.

Robin Rothfield, convenor of http://www.defeathoward.com has given us details of another philanthropic option. They are raising money to buy newspaper advertising in marginal seats with a view to toppling the Howard candidates.

Cheques to:-
Support Humane Policies Campaign Inc
Attention: Robin Rothfield
PO Box 35
FAIRFIELD VIC 3078

Or pay Commonwealth Bank account 063130 10237850, named 'Supp

I've had a couple of people very generously offer money. The fact is, we have none and don't really want any just now. We don't have a bank account.

But money is important, and for those with the itch to put some dough into beating Howard, there's plenty of options. John Valder is taking donations for his unique campaign to unseat Howard in Bennalong. All candidates need money so if you think your local is a good'n and has a chance of making an impact, send 'em a cheque.

Robin Rothfield, convenor of www.defeathoward.com has given us details of another philanthropic option. They are raising money to buy newspaper advertising in marginal seats with a view to toppling the Howard candidates.

Cheques to:
Support Humane Policies Campaign Inc
Attention: Robin Rothfield
PO Box 35
FAIRFIELD VIC 3078

Or pay Commonwealth Bank account 063130 10237850, named 'Support Humane Policies Campaign Inc', branch: Fairfie

Practically hysterical and immensely irrational. Pages and pages of biased opinion without facts to support them. And when the facts do appear, not in context, no analysis, no balance, just more one-sided assertions. Counter agruments are never considered - no bigger view or perspective.

This book gives an immense boost to the right because it shows a left incapable of engaging in debate, but obsessing on details. Take 'the party'. 12 pages of rant before the party list. 6 out of approx 70 donated to the Liberals: irrational conclusion - you have to donate to attend. The problem - no 'novelist, painter actor dancer' present - no carpenter, plumber, electrician, haridresser, butcher or funeral director either - but they apparently don't need representation, just the left elite.

If this is the best that can be done in criticism, then John Howard is safe for another 50 years.