A number of people have enquired about local NHJ! groups for their area or, more generally, what to do. The most recent is Steliano Cusmiani, who queries:

I want to help start up some 'Grass Roots' action in support of 'Not Happy John' and against John Howard.

I live in Leonay, NSW - in the Lindsay electorate - Let's get rid of Jackie Kelly as well!!! How do I go about this? Any guidance? I've never done this before.

Please help.

I sort of brainstormed a reply, which I published under his query. But it seems to me that for many individuals who have read Margo's book, 'What do I do, like NOW, to defeat this bastard?' might be a prescient question. So I republish my thoughts here and invite replies and additions, from my collegues and from anyone else. Just post them as a 'Corrections/More Info/Queries/Direct Actions'.

---------------------

Best of luck Stel. Unless there's something I don't know, there's no chance an independent or small-party candidate can win Lindsay from Jackie Kelly, but it's not out of the question that the ALP's David Bradbury will get the required 5.5% swing to do the job.

You could support Bradbury, by volunteering, but although they are small, it would be better to check out your local Green branch (or Dem or independent if that's your preference, so long as they are preferencing Howard LAST). Although the wide field in Lindsay is totally dominated by the Libs and the ALP, the election will still be won on preferences.

Here's some general thoughts on the sort of political tasks at hand apart from just volunteering time to letterbox drop and hand out How-to-Vote cards (which can really help a candidate, and we should all be doing this election for our chosen candidate if we possibly can). They're just thoughts OK. I'm thinking aloud here, and invite people to answer me or to add more.

1) Make absolutely sure you, your family, friends and dog are enrolled to vote NOW. You have until September 7.

2) If you have anything to do with it, put your weight behind the political task of having all small parties exchanging preferences and putting Howard last. As an individual, writing letters to each candidate demanding that they put Howard last and giving some reasons why is a simple action which could have some effect. Letters to the editor etc the same.

3) The propaganda task of a NHJ! type group which remained independent of candidates would be, in my mind, to promote the imperative, to candidates and voters, to Put the Liberals Last, with good crisp reasons why.

The points will get on the board from any of our efforts if we have the effect of changing a vote which would have gone to the conservatives into a vote which goes against the conservatives. So we are not out to impress our friends. For example, if a right wing (more acurately agrarian socialist in all likelihood) independent could be convinced, on issues of free trade, gun control, threats to democracy, subservience to the Yanks, or whatever works, to preference Howard last, that would be a small coup. 100 points. That sort of thing could mean the seat.

4) Find out who the independents who will just preference Howard are. Make sure voters know who they are, that they not mistakenly give them their first vote. In general we should know who the candidates are and especially the candidate our first vote is going to. Especially don't give your first vote to an independent or a party you've never heard of (however nice the name). Know the candidates, and a further service would be helping other people know them.

5) Present each candidate with a list of questions about policy, especially policy concerning democratic procedure and accountability in politics. Submit the results with some analysis as a story to your local paper, or publish the material yourself.

6) Specifically in Lindsay (back to David), get rock-solid promises from ALL candidates, including Kelly, that they will support the preservation of the ADI site for bushland. Hell, the parties will be worried about your seat. This election is a local opportunity to save a bit of koala and kangaroo habitat. If I was there, I wouldn't be able to resist trying.

For democracy in the long term I think there is much more we can be doing. But right now, getting rid of the worm is all I can direct my attention toward. Any other ideas??