Did a traffic reporter for a local paper derail a Presidental candidate?

The Australian Independent Media Network

If you don’t follow US politics, you may have missed the unfolding scandal in New Jersey, and its implications on US national politics.

This post is not going to look at the actual scandal (it involved a bridge, traffic jams and the New Jersey governor Chris Christie, who was likely to be front-runner for the Republicans in the 2016 presidential elections). Background on the scandal can be found here CNN (Chris Christie bridge scandal: a primer). This post is more about how it went from a minor traffic issue to a major national story.

“Traffic jams are not news,” Rachel Maddow said. “Traffic jams caused by poorly organised ‘traffic studies’ are not even really big news stories. But if the state of New Jersey is being run in such a way that control of interstate assets is being manipulated on purpose to punish specific towns and even specific individuals…

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Is Tony Abbott a sociopath?

Tags

Howard Zinn, Rupert Murdoch, Tony Abbott

by Turn Left (Alison Parkes) with Penny Carter

Actually, I have no idea whether Tony Abbott is a sociopath or not. I am not a psychiatrist. I am also not going to put up a list of Hare’s traits of a sociopath checklist and trawl through Tony Abbott’s long his of violence, bullying and abuse to find instances of quotes or actions that may correspond with that checklist.

What I will do, is put up Hare’s checklist, and let readers draw their own conclusions, not about whether Tony Abbott is a sociopath, or not… but whether the entire country as a whole needs some time on the leather couch talking about our feelings, our childhoods and our mothers.
• glibness
• superficial charm
• grandiose sense of self-worth
• need for stimulation
• proneness to boredom
• pathological lying
• cunning
• manipulative behaviour
• lack of remorse
• shallow affect [superficial emotional responses]
• callousness
• lack of empathy
• parasitic lifestyle
• poor behavioural control
• lack of realistic long-term goals
• promiscuity
• impulsivity
• irresponsibility
• failure to accept responsibility [for their own actions]
• criminal versatility ¹
• relying on sociological strategies and tricks to deceive

The problem is not so much that there are sociopaths, they have always existed, and will always exist in our societies. The problem is we keep electing them to govern over us, then bizarrely, expect they will govern in our best interests.

Like a nation of sheep we bought the lies and myths propagated in the Murdoch and Murdoch mini-me (ABC) media about how Tony is a changed person. Not even three months in, and that choice at the ballot box is proving disastrous. The almost cult-like worshiping of the thug who conned his way into the Lodge means our media has to tell us on a daily basis that black is white in order to maintain the illusion that Tony Abbott is the new messiah who will save Australia from the regional peace and AAA prosperity that Labor delivered us.

This is not who we are, there is nothing peculiarly Australian that requires us to vote in a violent, abusive, bullying man to become Prime Minister. Just as there was nothing in the German people in the 1920s and ’30s that meant they were more likely to vote in a fascist government. The only question is why they continued to support the fascist government, when it become blindingly obvious their leader was a dictator.

As Howard Zinn said: “Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience. Our problem is that people all over the world have obeyed the dictates of leaders…and millions have been killed because of this obedience… Our problem is that people are obedient all over the world in the face of poverty and starvation and stupidity and war and cruelty. Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves… [and] the grand thieves are running the country. That’s our problem.”
(A video of Matt Damon reading that full speech can be found here…)

The lust for power, the easy access to the bottomless ATM known as taxpayers, the ability to get courts and federal police to bend to your will, is a lure so strong that those with evil and malevolent intentions find it difficult to resist. For these people, the ends justifies the means. The ‘ends’ being access to unlimited power, the ‘means’ is throw anyone under the bus that gets in their way. The trouble is, when the elected officials use lies, propaganda and intimidation to get there, they need to reproduce those tactics on a much larger scale to maintain their position of power, then our democracy gets thrown under that bus.

Do we still think our elected leaders act in the best interest of our country? As recent events in the US has shown, the Right Wing Teaparty republicans were prepared to crash the US economy by hitting the debt ceiling because they are ideologically opposed to poor people getting medical care that doesn’t result in bankruptcy. Our current government (it seems) is governing for the benefit of select few – Tony Abbott, George Pell, Gina Rinehard, Rupert Murdoch.

This current governments policies are ideological, and designed to transform our environment to maximise profits for mining magnate Rinehart, transform our economy to benefit a foreign billionaire Murdoch, push the stone-age values of a religious institution, and our work place laws to benefit a handful of foreign corporation and not millions of people who work for their wages.

We, as a nation, have surrendered our freedom, optimism, compassion, generosity, empathy, in exchange for security* and ended up with neither.

* an illusion of security, both budget and border. I say illusion because the crises that Liberals promise to save us from exist only in their own minds and in newspaper headlines, and do not reflect reality. Our budget under Labor was not an ’emergency’, it was one of the best in the world, our borders are not in crisis because of a couple of boats.

 

Source: Psychopathy: Antisocial, Criminal, and Violent Behavior
edited by Theodore Millon, Erik Simonsen, Morten Birket-Smith, Roger D. Davis (2003)

 

Related articles

• Fall Of The Whirling Dervish (pbxmastragics.com)
• Honeymoon Fades for Australia’s New PM Abbott: Poll (thejakartaglobe.com)
• An Open Letter to Abbott voters (victoriarollison.com)

Can you get arrested under QLD’s new VLAD laws for listening to these songs? (possibly not): Music And Politics

Under Queensland’s new VLAD (Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Bill) http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2013/10/15/tough-penalties-for-criminal-gang-members – legislation supposedly aimed at bikies, but can be used against any organisation – a man was arrested for wearing a Sons Of Anarchy t-shirt, which is a television show. The laws are so stringent, even fictional bikies face being outlawed. In another case, a man was denied bail for wearing a Rebels belt buckle.

So here are 20 songs that have a connection to motorbikes – which probably won’t get a lot of love from the Queensland government.

– WARNING: may contain language which may offend some readers –

1. Lil Death
by Imperial Crowns from the Sons Of Anarchy soundtrack (“Albification” episode 1, season 2). I can find little information about this song or this Los Angeles band online, however, Lil Death (or “La petite mort” for those who speak French) has also been in used in the infamous censored “softball” scene from Coyote Ugly which puts this song at 2000 or earlier.
genre: dirty blues, blues rock

sample lyrics: Rolling hard, riding low,
come on baby, your daddy’s coming home

Love come collect me, please, come collect me
I’m so damn high, I can’t come down…
when it’s time to go, this is the way that I want to die
Little death
watch Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBNkPAj3PP0

2. Ride Me Down Easy
by Waylon Jennings (written by Billy Joe Shaver) in 1973. Waylon Jennings was one of the most famous proponents of the Outlaw Country movement. Although it is probably safer to not use the word “outlaw” in Queensland. A song about life on the Highway.

sample lyrics: Hey ride me down easy Lord,
ride me on down
Leave word in the dust where I lay
Say I’m easy come, easy go
Easy to love when I stay
watch Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XS3IE3ktJ8

3. Let The Day Begin
by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (touring Australia mid November) probably best to avoid the tour merchandise if live in Queensland. The original version by The Call was used by Al Gore as his campaign song in the 2000. (Also available as a free download from BRMC from their website http://blackrebelmotorcycleclub.com/letthedaybegin/.
genre: indie rock, alternative rock

sample lyrics: Here’s to the teachers in the crowded rooms
Here’s to the workers in the fields
Here’s to the preachers of the sacred words
Here’s to the drivers at the wheel
watch Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmtQwtcaqLM

4. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
by Queen, written by Freddie Mercury in 1979, (and for fans of Doctor Who, this was the wedding song for Amy and Rory).
genre: classic rock

sample lyrics: I gotta be cool relax, get hip
Get on my track’s …
And take a long ride on my motor bike
Until I’m ready (Ready Freddie)
Crazy little thing called love
watch Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE34cSvZCd8

5. This Wheel’s On Fire
by The Band written by Rick Danko in 1967. This song was later used as the theme song to the TV show Absolutely Fabulous. The linked version (below) features Rick Danko on lead vocal, bass, Levon Helm on drums, backing vocal, Garth Hudson on Clavinet, Lowrey organ, Rocksichord through a telegraph key, Richard Manuel on acoustic piano, backing vocal and Robbie Robertson on hair styling products.
genre: classic rock, Americana

sample lyrics: This wheel’s on fire,
rolling down the road
Best notify my next of kin
This wheel shall explode!
watch Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVoIjPUTC6o

6. White Out
by Boss Hog, featuring Cristina Martinez of Pussy Galore on vocals and her husband Jon Spencer of The Blues Explosion on guitar. According to Wikipedia, Boss Hog, named after a desirable (“boss”) motorcycle (“hog”).
genre: post punk, indie rock

sample lyrics: I’m coming to see
I was born to see
I’m coming to see the lie
And I’m going to see it
I’m going to see it
I was born to see the lie
watch Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeS_IBJRlD8

7. Leader Of The Pack
by The Shangri-Las in 1964, (written by George “Shadow” Morton – with or without – Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich), but apparently took until 1990 to make it to Number 1 in Australia. Features revving motorbike sound effects throughout. A song about Betty and Jimmy not finding true love because he is the “leader” of the “pack”. Ah! the innocent days of the 1960s when bikie gang leaders could pick-up teenage girls at candy stores.
genre: 60s, girl group, pop

sample lyrics: He sort of smiled and kissed me goodbye
The tears were beginning to show
As he drove away on that rainy night
I begged him to go slow
But whether he heard, I’ll never know
Look out! Look out! Look out! Look out!
watch Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McvWodRXA7k

8. Eddie’s Teddy
from Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Picture Show, a science fiction musical homage to 50s shlock horror movies about a Sweet Transvestite from Transylvania, who is actually from another planet, with lots of catchy songs. Movie version sung by Jonathan Adams, Susan Sarandon, Tim Curry, Richard O’Brien, Patricia Quinn.
genre: glam rock, musical

sample lyrics: All he wanted
Was rock & roll porn
And a motor bike
Shooting up junk
He was a lowdown cheap little punk
Taking everyone for a ride

When Eddie said he didn’t like his teddy
You knew he was a no good kid
watch Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJtT877xBz8

9. Born To Be Wild
Yep, you knew this was coming somewhere on this list… by Steppenwolf in 1968 by Mars Bonfire (that’s a name? wow, they did a lot of drugs in the 60s). From the Easy Rider soundtrack.
genre: 60s, psychedelic, classic rock

sample lyrics: Get your motor runnin’
Head out on the highway
Lookin’ for adventure
And whatever comes our way
Yeah Darlin’ go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space
watch Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJS8j9YYB9w

10. Farewell Aunty Jack
by Grahame Bond, Rory O’Donoghue in 1973, the closing theme song for the ABC’s The Aunty Jack Show, described by Greg Hunt’s favourite research resource, as a show about “an obese, moustachioed, gravel-voiced transvestite, part trucker and part pantomime dame… dressed in a huge, tent-like blue velvet dress, football socks, workboots, and a golden boxing glove on her right hand. She rode everywhere on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle” (source).

sample lyrics: So remember, you better listen to this song real close coz I’ll tell you what, if you don’t,
I’m gonna jump through your speakers and rip your bloody arms off… and I will too…
Don’t forget it… especially you stupid.
She rides a black bike (I do)
And drives through the night (right)
She’s big, round and fat
But don’t dare tell her that (I bloody well aren’t)
Coz she gets so mean
Her glove starts to gleam
There’s a scream as she plummets away (goodbye me little luvlies)
watch Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQbsW3-DSvk

11. Acoustic Motorbike
Luka Bloom 1991, an acoustic motorbike – would be a pedal bike? perhaps? But, Queensland cops can’t tell the difference between a tv show and a real bikie gang, they’d probably get confused by an acoustic motorbike.
genre: Irish, folk rock

sample lyrics: I work my legs
I pump my thighs
Take in the scenery passing me by …
A motion built upon human toil
Nuclear free needs no oil
But it makes me hot, makes me hard
I never thought I could have come this far
watch Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wylkmlFtSCY

12. Black Boys On Mopeds
by Sinéad O’Connor in 1990, it is hypothesised this is about the killing of black youth, Colin Roach at Stoke Newington police station, UK, and / or UKs Nicolas Bramble who was chased to his death by police on suspicion of riding while black, on a stolen moped, which turned out to be his own bike.
genre: Irish, alternative, rock

sample lyrics: Margaret Thatcher on TV
Shocked by the deaths that took place in Beijing
It seems strange that she should be offended
The same orders are given by her
…
These are dangerous days
To say what you feel is to dig your own grave
watch Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n14lwdpYkAA

13. Motherfucker On A Motorcycle
by Machine Gun Fellatio from Sydney, the song is basically the title repeated in various ways, over and over.
genre: indie, alternative

sample lyrics: Shes’s a mother fucker on a motorcycle
watch Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAw_qV_kayE

14. Silver Machine
by Hawkwind by Robert Newton Calvert, Dave Brock, in 1972, with Lemmy from Motörhead on bass and vocals. Calvert has described the inspiration for the song “I read this essay by Alfred Jarrey called, “How to Construct a Time Machine”, and … I seemed to suss out immediately that what he was describing was his bicycle.” (source). Although inspired by a bicycle time machine, the lyrics suggest a motorbike.
genre: space rock, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, psychedelic

sample lyrics: I just took a ride
In a silver machine
And I’m still feeling mean.
Do you wanna ride…
I got a silver machine.
It flies side ways thru’ time
It’s an electricline
watch Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfniG-AdSC4

15. The Boys Are Back In Town
by Thin Lizzy by Phil Lynott in 1976, if not about the Hells Angels, it has become associated with Hells Angels over the years. This song was used without permission as a campaign song by Mitt Romney in the 2012 elections, which the Thin Lizzy guitarist says “You have to ask the question: did the Republican Party not consider that they should seek permission before using music in this way? This sort of arrogant and disrespectful treatment of any artist reflects very badly on any Presidential candidate.” (source)
genre: hard rock, classic rock

sample lyrics: Friday night they’ll be dressed to kill
Down at Dino’s bar and grill
The drink will flow and blood will spill
If the boys want to fight, you’d better let them
watch Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpDO_JPuWkY

16. Jeans On
by David Dundas, began life as a jingle for an ad for Brutus Jeans, by David Dundas, Roger Greenaway in 1976. Dundas then stretched his 30-seconds of fame into a career as a one-hit-wonder. This song was later covered by Australia’s very own, New Zealand born Keith Urban.
genre: 70s pop

sample lyrics: You and me, we’ll go motorbike ridin’ in the sun
And the wind and the rain
I got money in my pocket, I got a tiger in my tank
And I’m king of the road again
…
I pull my blue jeans on, I pull my old blue jeans on
watch Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWdcZqG02Ls

17. Born To Run
by Bruce Springsteen in 1975. The use of the phrase “suicide machine” would suggest the vehicle they are riding is a motorbike on the highway, and not a car. Springsteen’s guitarist Little Steven played one of the mobsters on TVs The Sopranos, during one random scene in Long Term Parking (E12, S05), another associate of Tony Soprano was late, and the reason given was “highway was jammed, with broken heroes, on a last-chance power drive” lyrics from this song.
genre: classic rock

sample lyrics: In the day we sweat it out in the streets of a runaway American dream
At night we ride through mansions of glory in suicide machines
Sprung from cages out on Highway 9,
Chrome wheeled, fuel injected and steppin’ out over the line
Baby this town rips the bones from your back
It’s a death trap, it’s a suicide rap
We gotta get out while were young
’cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run
watch Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxuThNgl3YA

18. Ezy Ryder
by Jimi Hendrix, with vocal help from Steve Winwood and Chris Wood of Traffic, in 1971,> If not directly inspired by, the movie Easy Rider (which featured another Hendrix song “If 6 Was 9” on the soundtrack), then this song draws parallels with Easy Rider.
genre: classic rock, blues, psychedelic

sample lyrics: There goes Ezy
Ezy Ryder
Ridin down the highway of desire
He says the free wind
takes him higher
Tryin to find his heaven above
but he’s dyin to be loved
watch Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbh0F-90N-M

19. Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting
by Elton John and Anastacia, written by Elton John, Bernie Taupin in 1973, this live (or “live”) version from 2000.
genre: classic rock, piano pop

sample lyrics: Don’t give us none of your aggravation
We had it with your discipline
Saturday night’s alright for fighting
Get a little action in

A couple of the sound that I really like
Are the sounds of a switchblade and a motorbike
I’m a juvenile product of the working class
Whose best friend floats in the bottom of a glass
watch Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-Tb0i42k5U

20. Wild Ones
by Waylon Jennings (yes, two Jennings songs in one list) from the 1995 album “Waymore’s Blues Part II”, no connection to The Wild One the 1953 American outlaw biker film starring Marlon Brando.
genre: outlaw country

sample lyrics: We were the wild ones
The ones they couldn’t control
We were survivors
Good hearts, body and soul

We were the winners
‘Cause we didn’t know we could fail
We were the wild ones
And we had the world by the tail
watch Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF9jubKjVAk

Marlon Brando, publicity still from ‘The Wild One’ 1953

Feministas Unite

Tags

activism, feminist, feminista, Futurama, Leela

feminism
a collection of movements aimed at defending equal political, economic, and social rights for women
(Hint: if it simply reframes patriarchy in you-go-girl way, while subjugating women, or… well, anyone, it is not feminism)

–ista
Added to a word to form a noun denoting one who follows a principle

 

In the Futurama movie Futurama: Into The Wild Green Yonder (2009), Leela – the sassy, purple-haired, kick-ass lead female character – becomes an outlaw, when she and the other female characters join a group of feminist, ecological activists known as Feministas

From their Feminista cave, the Honey-Bun Hideout, the “confemeracy” planned to save the Violet Dwarf star from destruction. The Violet Dwarf star was home to all the endangered species in the universe. In their outlaw uniform of pink-camouflage and armed with their skills, the femi-power and a golf-club they set out to save the universe.

Chanting: “Shut up and hear our wisdom,
Save the ecosystem” they confront the evil property developer.

Under advice from Leela “we can either chant slogans or We Can Take Action” they take action.

With the men safely locked up in the go-go cage, the Feministas defeated the property developer and the military which was hunting them down. The Violet Dwarf Star was spared, the endangered species survived and had a good time doing so.

 

images from Futurama © Matt Groening, fair-use is not intended to over-ride his copyright

No self respecting woman should wish or work for the success of a party that ignores her gender

Tags

Politics, Susan B. Anthony, Women's rights

Suffragettes, 6/2/1920
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

“No self respecting woman should wish or work for the success of a party that ignores her [gender].” Susan B. Anthony, 1872.

Almost 150 years ago women knew this, they knew that nothing could be gained working for a party that treats women like second class citizens, have we forgotten these lessons of the past?

The Government Is Murdering Women

Tags

activists, suffragettes, vote

The government is murdering women, is a protest sign that relates to the force feeding of hunger striking suffragette activists while they were in prison.

Our Votes Won’t Be Taken For Grant, Neither Will Our Right To Vote

Related articles

• Suffragettes on hunger strike: from the archive blog (guardian.co.uk)
• Suffragette hunger strikes, 100 years on (guardian.co.uk)

That Misogyny Speech from PM Julia Gillard

Tags

Julia Gillard, Misogyny, parliament, Prime Minister, sexism, speech, Tony Abbott

The full text of this speech, made to Parliament on 8 October 2012, available here

An alternative view which is focused on Tony Abbott’s face during the entire speech, available here

March In March

by TurnLeft

I’m not an expert, but have done a few small demos, try and find someone who does this for a living and pump them for information

choose a colour, something like red is a primary colour, highly visible, and its the opposite of Tony’s blue ties, more people are likely to own red than a colour like purple

or if the Greens are coming, maybe encourage them to wear green, if unions are coming, encourage them to wear orange, or black for a funeral march to represent the death of democracy, large blocks of colour are also good for photos, and people can colour coordinate the cause they support

maybe merchandise to fund raise – simple stickers that say “maintain the rage” or “its time” or whatever, either for sale on the day, or leading up to the day, try to make them not party specific, not everyone who opposes Abbott is ALP or green

in Russia, they have demonstrations on the 31st day, people demonstrate on months that have a 31 and write ’31’ on their hands, as a symbol of the protest, find your own symbol or colour

Have a petition, and have people on lots of social networks rustling up signatures. Have a general statement “We oppose the Abbott government” or whatever… and people can add in the comments section why they oppose, if it gets too political people might avoid, you want lots of names, even from overseas, printing will be expensive – you want it to be as big a pile as possible, tie it up with a ribbon, and present that to IDK, who ever, but a huge petition makes a good photo op, that way even if the numbers of demonstrators is small, you’ve still got numbers on your side

on the day, set up a blog or FB or flickr and encourage people to send in their own photos, also have your own “press” people, watermark the photos, have a statement about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it, call it a press kit, let MSM know that photos and statements is theirs for the taking

if you get no interest from MSM, assign press rights to selected bloggers

you will still need people behind the scenes on the day organising things who aren’t at the rallies, but coordinating between all rally sites

MSM may ignore it, but they are good at PR, so if you have your statement ready, all they have to do it reprint, they still might ignore it, but you have done everything you can to make it easy for them

You need some ppl to have their names out there, as part of the press kit, for media people to contact them, they have to know exactly what they are talking about and be brilliant public speakers, if the MSM have to wade through a FB page, that is too hard for our media

Invite every politician you can think of, from every party, including Pirates, PUP, Labor, Greens, union leaders, community organisers, every special interest group but let them know its a bipartisan (does that mean unaligned?) rally

try and get some high profile speakers, even if they are only twitter celebrities

You want to build momentum, try not to do everything at once, petition one week (start early and you have lots of time to collect signatures), sign making another, attendee kit another

protest signs, for most people wearing the colour of the day will be enough, if you want banners or signs – they could be a hazard – have a webpage that can brainstorm slogans – YOU ABSOLUTELY DO NOT WANT ANY DITCH THE WITCH OR DEATH THREATS that will be the only thing Murdoch will run with

Online attendee kit:
– maps maps maps, location of where they’re meeting, where you’re marching to, how to get there by public transport or the nearest train / bus / ferry stop to your assembly point
– all the website details for more information
– how to upload things on the day
– have a list of things they might bring – water, hats, sunscreen, food, bandaids, ETC
– locations of public toilets
– have a safety check list:
— if you’re ill, stop walking
— don’t carry too much money, nothing valuable that could be stolen, don’t engage with trouble makers, etc
– this does not constitute legal advice, organisers are not responsible for any loses you may incur or damage you may suffer, organisers are not responsible for any legal trouble you get into etc etc (find a lawyer for the legal disclaimer)

maybe find someone who is good with app design, I don’t use apps so I don’t know what apps can actually do, can they link to maps and websites, have lists of information?

for most demonstrations you have to contact the police, someone has to take responsibility, their name is on the permit, if there is a large demo, they can close streets and other legally things, even if you don’t need permits, talk to the police and find out what you do need to do, they might say nothing, but you have checked

you might be told you need first aid people, if you are expecting a large crowd contact someone like St John or whoever, they might have some suggestions, anything can happen, heart attacks, heat stroke, cuts and bruises, if not, you might have to arrange that on your own, green is usually a first aid colour, you want qualified people – maybe qualified nurses or first aid cert people can be encouraged to wear a green ribbon on their wrist (know this before the day) if they are volunteering informally

find some lawyers before the day and get pump them for information, about the legalities of what you’re doing so you do everything legal – and for your disclaimer – prepare for a government crack down, I don’t put anything past Tony if he thinks this will succeed

prepare / be aware for trouble makers from the Right, they will do everything they can to sabbottage it

for some people, that might attend every demo ever held, some this might be their first, make it gentle for them

Have an online to-do list for attendees including: sign petition, sign up for your state, or visit the website for more info….
people in general will say “I want to help, what can I do”, you tell them, they say “that’s too hard, what else can I do”, you will really have to push every step of the way, but make it simple so people feel like they are doing something, and then they have a stake in it, they will feel more personally affected by the outcome

people will want to participate, never tell anyone no, have your list of things ready, if all the big organising jobs are taken, you still want people to think they are valuable – anything from get signatures or think up slogans or publicity, the minute you say NO, they wont ask again

if you are soliciting donations tell people what it’s for – materials for signs, permits (do they cost?), whatever costs are involved, so people don’t think you’re getting rich

don’t try and organise things by consensus on social media, many of those with opinions wont be showing up, it’s those who will be there who count, encourage feedback, but make some decisions and keep people updated so they don’t get bored and give up

assign contact people for each state and territory or region – keep the organisers for each city, town, state, territory in the loop nationally, but also, each region will have different logistics, that the rest of the country doesn’t need to know, and your national organisers don’t need to know the minutiae of every region, just coordinate nationally and disseminate info between the regions

contact as many community groups as possible, any group that is likely to be affected by changes from the forthright Abbott government – schools, parents, carers, people with disabilities, uni students, recently unemployed, seniors groups, unions, ppl use medicare, environmental groups, religious groups, people who oppose religion in schools; also, activist groups with experience organising, Get Up, Emilys list, refugee organisations, live export campaigners – if someone is an expert, ask them lots of questions