The other day I read an article about the Reid group (I think - can't find the article again) and was wondering if there's a Brisbane 'branch' or if there are any similar groups in Brisbane or if anyone knows of any grassroots groups of interested people who have concerns about our democracy and the direction it's taking?

I'm sick of seething in silence - I want to get involved! Are there others out there in Brisbane who are equally appalled at the state of our democracy and have been encouraged by Margo's book to get involved? I can be contacted on [email protected]

NHJ responds (AL): Check out http://www.reidgroup.org/ for further info. I'm sure like-minded invidivuals in Brisbane are out there. If not, maybe you, Robyn, could start a Reid Group branch?

I want to take action. I own a post production company in Wollongong and make TV commercials, doco's etc etc for the Broadcast Television industry. I can write & make some TV commercials espousing the feelings of the Not Happy John book & website. To get them on air we need to buy airtime. If it could be co-ordinated we could all donate money into an account solely to get airtime and spread the message once the election campaign starts. We probably can't afford metro Television rates, but regional television airtime is pretty cheap. Grass roots democracy electronically - works for me.

NHJ responds (AL): This sounds like a wonderful idea. If anybody has any ideas and/or contacts in regional TV areas of Australia, don't hesitate contacting NHJ or Darrell.

I was googling 'League of Rights' + 'Howard', after hearing the rumour regarding Howard senior being a member. I was so surprised to find that they are selling NHJ! (refer below, I have cut and pasted from www.alor.org). Maybe I should also check out www.pm.gov.au!

BOOKS FROM THE MAILING SERVICES: 'Not Happy, John' by Margo Kingston: Solicitor, lecturer in business law and political commentator, Sydney Morning Herald journalist Margo Kingston thinks its crunch time for Australia. She tells us she isn't interested in the old, out-worn left-right rhetoric, what she is interested in is the urgent need for Australians to reassert the core values that once made this nation a humane, egalitarian, liberal democracy - the core values with which she agrees. We could agree with her on many issues. She writes that she is not happy with the way Howard: o He snuck us into the Iraq war without ever really telling us why. o Trampled on our democratic right to know. o Wants to give the Me

Having recently decided that the mainstream media was not a place to get quaility information anymore I began to feverishly buy any books I could find on political and social issues. Having enjoyed some of Michael Moore's scathing observations of America I was pleased to come across your recent publication which has a similiar message pertaining to Australia.

For fifteen years I have been a stress therapist and have chaired a self awareness group. The experience was enriching in many ways, but I was left rather jaded. What I learned was that only about 1 in 20 people have really developed past the level of selfishness that one sees in a new born baby. Once a child discovers the needs of others he/she must learn to accomodate them and this could be be considered the beginning of real awareness.

This growth has become severely stunted in today's society and what gain there has been is usually lost again by the time an individual reaches middle age. (a person's p

Good on you for trying to do something to bring back Democracy in Australia. Unfortunately the old saying that

Re: Peter Hackney's Query about Angus and Robinson

I picked up my copy of NHJ at Angus & Robertson in Chatswood. They had a few stacks of them at the time, so they must have simply sold out.

Congratulations MK for clinically exposing these psuedo-democratic thugs to a wider audience... I only fear that it is too late and that Labor having lost its reason for existence by embracing conservative values is now just a plaything of the same forces that the 'assistant-managers' of Liberalism historically have long toadied up to and will not make any significant difference, even if they do manage a win. But thanks for putting it on the record and attempting to tweak our fighting spirits...

Ohh, and I miss your contributions to LNL.....any chance of a come-back?

Lawrence Winder.

Byron Bay's Echo News features a review this week of NHJ and Andrew Wilkie's Axis of Deceit.

One correction, however, with this paragraph:

'Her [MK's] lengthy book includes website contributions, an examination of the Zionist lobby's influence (being Jewish, Kingston is on safer ground than many) and a full-frontal on the Tony Abbott-led 'Australians for Honest Politicians' that led to Hanson's jailing.'

Margo isn't Jewish. At all. I am Jewish, however and I presume that the reviewer is referring to my Hanan Ashrawi chapter.

In other news, the movie, The President Vs. David Hicks opens this Thursday around Australia.

Season commences in Sydney, this Thursday, 12th of August 2004, at the Valhalla Cinema, 166 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe Ph 9660 8050.

One of the directors, Curtis Levy or Bentley Dean will be present at every Sydney screening for a discussion a

Julian Burnside, Robert Manne, Young Australian of the Year Hugh Evans, and Malcolm Fraser have joined forces in a project to co-ordinate an effective campaign in the lead up to the Federal election, for a fair and humane refugee policy for Australia, and to provide resources for this campaign. This includes letting voters know where each candidate (in his or her electorate and in the Senate) stands on our refugee reform policy, as well as producing a range of campaign materials.

The Justice Project needs people to donate their funds, time and skills. For more information, go to: www.thejusticeproject.com.au or write to The Justice Project Inc, P.O.Box 2595 Fitzroy, 3065

Margo - the book has been a great conversation-starter for me, on planes, at airports where I've been reading it and across dinner tables. With passion, clarity and balance, you've opened up stories that we'd only been half-told, and I was both devastated and thrilled in the reading of your stories. Devastated at the wreckage that this Government, its friends, and sometimes its opponents have wreaked on our system. Thrilled that someone had the guts to call the tune honestly, and call us to action, and generate a bit of hope.

Some of the ideology that's gobbling up the Church right now finds a pretty good parallel with the Howard-Bush-Packer-Murdoch club. I'd love to see you doing a bit of unpacking there!!

Cheers,
Kevin Bates

Dear Margo,

Thanks for listing the eminent signatories to the statement calling for honesty in Australian politics. Many media reports mentioned that there were 43 signatories. But of the two websites that have offered a list of signatories, neither have 43. Yours had 39 at: http://smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/09/1092022386212.html And there are 42 at: http://www.politicsinthepub.org/stoppress.htm

I wonder why it's taken so long for the list to come out and even then not have all the names. I think the signatories need a better media liason officer!

Cheers, Philip

NHJ responds (AL): This is indeed a mystery. I've just done a Google search, and have come up with nothing more substantial. If anybody has further info, please let us know. As you say, Philip, this kind of information should be a public service.

Not Happy, John!

Australians have a reputation for understatement, and the title of this book - to me - is a paradigm example. Margo Kingston and other contributors write with a passion for democracy and a fair and just Australian society, and a white-hot anger at what has been done to, if not destroy, then at least tarnish them by John W. Howard and his cronies.

This book strikes me as being incredibly valuable for a number of reasons. It is written by someone who is passionate about our democracy, and ensuring its ongoing health and vitality - and that she sees that a critical and honest media is as essential to that as honest and caring politicians. Margo is also well placed to access information and stories that we'd never otherwise hear about - I've learned a lot about the ins and outs of cross media ownership for example from this book.

But one of the most impressive things is that the anger and the passion do not drown out the humanity of either the au