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 into where you might be able to place a donation.

Here's an example of a good subject for NHJ! election philanthropy. www.defeathoward.com are raising money to buy newspaper advertising in marginal seats. That is a very coherent NHJ! strategy. Thanks to the convenor of the site, Robin Rothfield, for this tip.