In the last few weeks, The Australian Jewish News (AJN) has been covering NHJ, and more specifically, my chapter on Hanan Ashrawi and the pro-Zionist lobby.

After running an opinion piece by Margo and myself last week, we expected the predictable amount of letters attacking our position (pro-Palestinian? Questioning the domination of self-appointed Jewish leaders? The status quo on Israeli politics?). The AJN did not disappoint this week, with a number of letters online and for good measure, another one in print.

They were all highly critical and yet failed to engage in the issues we'd raised.

I know for a fact that a number of letters supporting our position were sent to the AJN and yet the paper refused to publish them. It is this kind of self-censorship that is stifling real debate on Israel/Palestine in our community. Is it not time to honesty discuss where current US/Israeli policy is ta

Congratulations to Margo for putting into the mainstream the collection of untruths and manipulations our PM has done to us. Previously this was only done by what could be described as single issue publications which have been seen as some to be in the ratbag or extreme right category.

I am a firearms owner and have been hit twice now by our PM's bias and desire to control the States laws. I haven't enjoyed being made an instant criminal under an amnesty. These two events awoke me to our PM's attitude of knowing what is best for us and foisting it upon us in an undemocratic manner.

It truly worries me that if he is not voted out we will have our first Ruler of Australia. He certainly acts as if he is the Head of State already. As time has gone on in terms of office, he seems to be less incined to react to public opinion and more inclined to tough it out or bully his way through. It really is not good for us as a relatively young country to have the mindset that our po

Margo

Wonderful book! However, you really should have revealed the key and extremely damaging Howard election attack weapon; ie, that the terribly dreadful rotter (AKA Mark Latham) was also a compulsive bed wetter and thumb sucker as a child! Denis

G'day. I've just published a few emails from readers with their actions and ideas to take back our democracy over at Webdiary. One bloke registered to vote for the first time after reading the book - that alone makes writing the book worthwhile for me. Have a look at Liars for Howard.

Congratulations Margo! Your book brings together in a logical, sometimes emotional and perceptive manner many issues which highlight the problems facing our unique form of democracy. May it prompt many like me to move out of their comfort zone and become involved in defending our participative democracy.

While painting a bleak picture of the impact of Big Media, Big Parties and Big Money on democratic proceses in Australia, your book also provides ideas for people reclaiming our democratic birthright.

The rise (and fall) of Howard Dean in the US was a bewildering example of people power. His campaign may well have stalled, but John Kerry has stolen many of his best ideas, especially in relation to internet activism and generating real public interest in democracy.

Joe Trippi was the brains behind the Dean campaign. He now runs his own blog and has written a book on the rise of the internet as a tool for true democratic change.

In this interview, Trippi explains the philosophy behind the Dean campaign and how he believes Dean proves that with a group of dedicated contributors, an increasing number of citizens will participate. 'I think that's what we need to do', says Trippi. 'Build an active community, a community that's actively involved in policy and the future of the country. I mean, if we had two or three million Americans that were active, just look

I enjoyed the book immensely but was perplexed that trade unionists and the attacks on working people as well as the attacks on workers basic rights of freedom of association and the right to organise by the Howard goverment, were not covered at all in the book. Some of the Howard government's most questionable actions, such as its role in the Patricks dispute and its Workplace Relations Act, took place in the Industrial Relations arena.

Margo is looking at building democracy by getting people to unite over particular issues, however she has ignored organisations that have millions of Australians as members who can and are being mobilised to resist Howard's policies. She has ignored the largest group who have been severely attacked and marginalised by Johnny and his neo liberalist thugs - Australian workers.

I found the publishing of the Robert (Pig Iron Bob)Menzies quotes equally perplexing given he tried to outlaw a political party as well as cyncially using secta

Inspiring email from senior CITIZEN Peter Leith last week, which speaks for itself about what could be a crucial constituency in the coming election.

I am 75 years old and, though not Australian-born, I chose to live here. Throughout most of the last 63 years I had always been proud and glad of my choice. Tampa, Detention Centres and our participation in the attack on Iraq have made me ashamed. With four Australian children, eight Australian grandchildren and not much life ahead of me I am desperate to do something to arrest the dying-of-democracy in Australia.

Over the last ten years I have facilitated a U3A 'Current Affairs' Group in some of Melbourne's comfortable, middle-class suburbs. I have tried, hard, to shake the status-quo-complacency of a hundred or so 60+ men and women and get them to think outside the square of the evening TV news and the commercial radio shock-jocks. But it is not enough; to encourage them into thinking outside their own comfort-zones.

Margo,

I

G'day. I got some great news from the National Archives this week - the NHJ Website has been selected for its PANDORA archive of online sites. PANDORA is a great example of how people working together for a common cause can do just about anything. The National Archives - without any funding for it whatsover - created a team of committed employees to create an online archive, mostly in their own time and without payment, to meet its statutory obligation to archive Australia's history. What they came up with is so good that it's being copied by libraries around the world! Imagine outsourcing such a project - the cost wouldn't allow it to happen. Here's the email from the National Archives.

Dear Ms Kingston

Thank you for granting the National Library of Australia a copyright licence to include the Not Happy, John! web site in the PANDORA Archive. This licence permits the Library to copy your publication into the Archive and to retain it and provide online public access

Hi Margo - Last week I called into Angus & Robertsons at Salamander Bay shopping centre to see if they had NHJ. This is in a very large and recently expanded shopping centre in Port Stephens that services Nelson Bay and environs. A&R said they did not have the book and though they might be getting it in August, there were no plans to get it in that they knew of. They told me (somewhat vaguely) that someone else had asked about it.

Today (15/7) I called in again. This time I was told they did not have it but might be able to get it on a special order. I said, 'But this book is in the top 10 non-fiction books, why don't you stock it?' They told me they were not going to stock it, had no plans to get it in but might be able to get it on special order.

Isn't this rather bizarre? The ONE major bookshop in the whole area that is part of a major chain (now owned by W.H. Smith of U.K.) does not have a book that is #4 on the Non Fiction best seller list? They have Bill Clinton'

Participation in our democratic process is compulsory. You have to make a decision. Do you opt out after getting your name crossed out, cast a donkey vote or vote for a donkey? What if you dislike/distrust all the donkeys and you are part of the majority who thinks like you? This can't be real DEMOCRACY. What do we need to do to have an additional box on the ballot paper. 'NONE OF THE ABOVE'. That way, if this box counts as a significant proportion of the vote, they will know the voters are NOT HAPPY.

Margo: Hi John. To me, there's no excuse for voting informal because by doing so you're opting out of the privilege and responsibility of living in a democracy. Look around, find some people who also see no acceptable choice in your seat, and talk a person you all trust to stand with your total support when the going gets rough. Or join a party and do your best to ensure that party picks a trustworthy candidate who believes in service to the people. That's a long term solution

I had to put it down for a while to let the blood pressure subside, and I'm only on page 78. But I must finish it so I can get a few select others to read my copy, because they are in denial (or read The Oz) and need to read the book (they would never buy it).

A depressingly necessary book.

Thoughts occurring as I read the book: How come I was so unaware of Margo's weblog? How come so many people believed the Iraq war lies when so many of us saw the truth at the outset? Why isn't NHJ at the front of the bookstalls like the Clinton, Bush and Michael Moore varieties?

On reading this site's reviews, I don't see how critics of the book can deny the conclusions drawn from references laid out as fully as in any university assignment.

Thoughts now - isn't it great that we have nearly three months to engage in discussion that can cut through the advertising, spin and promises made to be broken, leading to the next election. Isn

I heard Margo being interviewed on ABC radio and she said a 'NOT HAPPY JOHN' bumper sticker was in the works. I and a number of people I know would like to have one on our bumpers. May I suggest, if they are not yet in print that instead of John holding an Australian flag that he be holding an American flag In any case, I anxiously await their availability.

Margo Hi James. Penguin printed 15,000 stickers and they've just about all gone. Quite a few people have inquired about printing more so there should be some more around soon. In the meantime I'll send you one of the few I've got left. Re the American flag, that was suggested but I decided that Australians still have the chance to forge a proud, independent identity.