Dear Margo and others, I was really struck by this morning's poll.

26 percent said they DID NOT trust Howard. But he was still the prefered prime minister. What does this tell you about the australian people?

WHY WOULD YOU HAVE A PREFERED PRIME MINISTER YOU COULD NOT TRUST?

Makes no sense. What a contradiction!

My desire to see Prime Minister Howard driven from office has more to do with an instinctive gut reaction than any high-powered analysis.

What I cannot stomach about the man is he kidnaps women and children and uses their pain for political gain.

As the Senate enquiry into institutionalised child abuse reveals, there's a nasty streak in some Australians that access to power makes ten times worse.

An enoromous amount of money will be spent on this election by all parties on advertising and promotion, and sick though it is, it will make a difference.

The Greens have just launched an extremely informative website, www.democracy4sale.org, using AEC information collected since 1999, detailing where the parties are getting their big donations. Thank God for some disclosure rules. It doesn't make corporate donations any less a perversion of democracy, but at least we can see who's doing the perverting. Thanks to Emily in the seat of Page for this link.

Some of our correspondents have generously offered us money - no big corporations unfortunately. We don't want any money and have no way to receive it.

But there is plenty that concerned citizens can do with their extra drachmas, and private donations are the single biggest source of funding for small parties and independents. They need you, so put some thought

The mainstream media continue mentioning NHJ under their breath, while never actually understanding the passion underlying the campaign.

Today, again, Gerard Henderson continues his positive rants against a political system which rarely looks outside inner Melbourne or Sydney.

Henderson is kind enough to mention MK and NHJ, though fundamentally ignores the serious disaffection in Western democracies with truth, lies and honesty in government. For the Henderson's of this world, our system is fine, pollies rarely if ever lie and the people should be happy with what they're given. Bring on accountability, I say.

When was the last time you listened to people outside inner Sydney, Gerard?

As we all know, a major focus of this election campaign is economic performance & interest rates, & so far we've seen plenty of attempts to scare people about interest rates.

I've been looking for some information that summarises both the Fraser Government's economic record (in which Howard was treasurer) in terms of interest rates, inflation etc as well as something on housing affordability to put the arguments of the benefits of low interest rates in perspective.

Here's an article that raises a few interesting points in a very simple & understandable way I think the parties opposed to the Government need to raise to properly inform voters:

Its my party and I'll lie if I want to!' (The Rodent)

Robert Manne has written an excellent article at:

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/22/1093113050895.html?from=storylhs

A very articulate and thoughtful piece on critical problems that face us as a nation when the players do not play by the rules and where Howard and co clearly believe they are above the rules. The lack of balances in powers is woefully apparent under the Howard government with its routine abuses of truth, power, and privilege. Instead of humility we get ever growing arrogance, cynical government in the extreme and utter disdain for the voting public of all ages.

Today brings further insults to the intelligence of anyone over 50

Election day is looming and NHJ was greeted last weekend with the re-emergence of our book on the Top 10 Non-Fiction best-seller list. In bookshops in Melbourne and Sydney, NHJ is still kicking goals.

AUGUST RESULTS

Number 5 @ Readings in Melbourne

Number 1 @ Gleebooks in Sydney

Number 3, Non-fiction @ Abbey's in Sydney

Number 7 (all books) @ Better Read than Dead in Sydney

I'll be running an election blog for the Sydney Morning Herald and Age newspapers for the duration of the election campaign. It's called Counterspin.

The aim is to get behind the news, analyse media coverage and debunk the inherent biases in reporting.

Get on board.

John McDonald of Bindaree Beef is backing challengers in National Party electorates. Bindaree Beef has already held meetings with local people in Roma, Taree and Gympie.

Check out this article in the AFR on July 29, 2004 titled

Let's work together for a country we can be proud of again.

Kate

Check it out

It's the one two from the bottom.

Also, according to NHJ!er Peter Jull, Arena magazine (no 72, page 79) has a piece answering Margo's section on NGOs. I can't find a link but check it out if you get a chance.

Thank you Margo for your stimulating book.

I read it on my plane trips from Queensland to visit and care for my ailing 90 year old Dad on the Blue mts NSW. He served in the Middle East and on the Kokoda Trail and understands the futility of war. He is not impressed with Howard's Australia or our involvement in Iraq, a war that will never be won.

I grew up running free on the Blue Mts and later spent 7 years working in Tasmania, climbing mountains and joining with thousands of others to attempt to save Lake Pedder.

Having now lived and worked as a Land Surveyor in Queensland for 30 years my vote has gone to John's team a few times. No more! I just hope that Australians will think long and hard about the big and honest picture and not be swayed this time by a few extra dollars from John.

My vote will be 1 The Greens for our fragile environment, compassion, community and anti war.

Last Night in New York, Kabarett Voltaire. By John Shand September 7, 2004 ? Ground Zero ... Wednesday Kennedy talks the walk. Seymour Centre, September 4 Aeroplanes flying into skyscrapers. Images of everlasting horror. The impossible made real, and the world changed forever. The attacks of September 11, 2001, touched us all, even here, 22 nervous flying hours from the epicentre. After the twin towers of the World Trade Centre were reduced to rubble, the public response was left to George Bush and his cronies in America and around the world. Talk about compounding a tragedy. The exception was the performance poet and actress Wednesday Kennedy. Originally a Sydneysider, Kennedy happened to be in New York that day, and for the next month she filmed, recorded and interviewed her way into the heart of the trauma. The results have been edited and interspersed with her delivery of a live, spoken-word component - part poetry, part reportage - for a package running about 50 minutes.

Following Margot Kingston's lead, we can ask candidates to address the fundamentals of good government/ governance. Here's a possible formulation:

There are many of us who want radical (in the correct sense) alternatives to the