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. I want to be able to look my grandchildren in the eye and answer them without shame when they ask me: 'What did YOU do GrandPierre to stop this happening?' Above all I want them to be aware of what is happening and have the guts to try and change things. Until NHJ arrived I had almost given up hope of anyone with media clout telling-it-the-way-it-is about Bonzai John Howard and his cohorts. Thank you very much Margo for having re-enthused me.

The over 60's are sufficient in number to effect a real change in government; my suggestion, to further the cause, is that they be targetted. Targetted to make them better aware of what is happening. Targetted to make them realise the responsibility they owe to their children and grandchildren and this country. Politicians, of both Parties, parrot platitudes about 'older Australians'; few of them seem to realise the political power that these older Australians could wield. There is, I believe a place for an organisation, an information program, even a blog-site dedicated to raising the awareness of older Australians.

Peter, you've hit a hugely important nail on the head, imho. Polls consistently show that the current government's support is highest, demographically, among the older voters. There's a variety of reasons that could be advanced for this (and JWH supporters would no doubt argue that it's because wisdom comes with age!) But I think you're right about the need for government critics to find a means to reach the older age groups. Too often the cranky rhetoric and bad manners of younger anti-Howardistas (ie like me) can throw up a generational wall before we even get started on the issues. I've had a ton of arguments with my dad (64) about JH over the years, and they're often as much to do with superficial differences - tone, style, the usual old bull-young bull stand-offs - as policy and substance.

As far as websites go, I've had a brief look around the net and apart from the more traditional 'pensioners' lobby groups, the only potential web-model I can find is the Grey Power set-up in New Zealand - again it's a lobby group more focussed on its own constituency, but it does illustrate the sort of site that might work to your ends. I'm sure there must be many more scattered local oldies groups working towards similar ends to those of your 'Current Affairs' project; how about NHJ! website readers at the upper end of the age spectrum fire your ideas and current projects in to NHJ!, and let's see if we can act as a central start-point to help Peter co-ordinate an online oldsters' 'Defend Our Democracy' group/website/election juggernaut? We can help you out with the technical side, Peter, if we do get the interest.

Meanwhile, thanks very much for still caring about the future we 38 year-old 'spring chickens' (and younger) will be left to grapple with, mate - even at the three-quarter ton mark, when most of your 'Greatest Generation' are enjoying a well-earned retirement.