I sometimes read your SMH articles and generally I found them a little on the conservative side for my tastes. I may have had a road to Damascus experience after encountering you excellent book Not happy John.

I have become very saddened by the shift that Australia has made in such a short time to the right and become cold hearted. I have been cheered by the tremendous support for the walks for reconciliation and walks against war but frustrated by the lack of impact on a government which seems to have been allowed to achieve control of parliament as its own territory to do what it will, media and the public service and military.

I would never say that John Howard's is a Nazi or another Hitler because that would dishonour the memories of the countless millions who suffered across Europe and indeed the world during his brutal reign of terror. But I have come to see that there is a fascist movement rising among us in the guise of the Liberal Party. We are seeing the same classic elements of fascist dictatorship emerging through legal means and bending of rules, laws and traditions to consolidate power and align business and government interests. Bush and co are doing the same in the USA and both of them must go.

I am part way through your book and enjoying it and feeling frustrated at the same time. I am at the part with the take over of our parliament by two other nations in two days. I was so angry when I read about that. But I think you need to make one factual correction. You describe the GG as our Head of State which will come as a surprise to Her Majesty the Queen and her heirs and successors. She is clearly our Head of State. We missed our first chance to get a an Australian HoS through more clever manipulation of process and people by Howard. When our GG or PM are in say the USA the US president or Governor Bush can propose a toast to HRM and I think William Dean introduced and the people of Australia to the toast. Neither GG or PM can propose a toast because they are not HoS.

I may give your articles another try, after having read your book. Kind regards Anthony