Christian Influence

Strikes & protests make powerful enemies.

We may love our enemies, but our friends are more likely to help us.

If ever there was a profession that reflected Christian values it is Nursing.

Nurses don’t have to strike to get patient/nurse ratios, shift bonuses and pay right.

Nor do teachers, doctors, paramedics and other government service providers.

They need to individually explain their cases and seek support from every MP in Parliament by Votergram.

Christ said ” Ask and you will receive”. If you don’t personally ask the decision-makers and explain your case to them, how could you possibly receive the right decision.

Votergrams reflect the parable of the sower. Some MPs help some don’t. You only need some more on side to make a difference.

How could making enemies of decision-makers possibly be sensible?

Forget bureaucrats. They are the people who can say “NO!”. Voters have no impact on them whatsoever.

Members of Parliament are the people who can say “YES!” because MPs control the bureaucrats AND Members of Parliament are  the people over whom individual voters have great influence, for individual voters decide whether politicians are elected to parliament and whether in government or opposition. They are very powerful, whether as friends or as allies.

Make them powerful allies with Votergrams and win your campaign for a fairer, safer Australia.

Jesus also said “where 2 or 3 are gathered together…” because it adds credibility.  When a number of Voters send Votergrams seeking the same outcome and supplying their own individual reasons for why it should, that also adds credibility in the eyes of MPs seeking the best outcome for the Australian people.

For additional experienced support join the Australian Voters Network  or contact community lobbyist and Democracy Coach FairGO.

The old concept of a peak body speaking for its members is no longer valid because it does not vote in government elections. The wisest Peak Bodies make their detailed submissions to the Minister and Departmental Head then help their members, who do vote in elections, express their own views and reasons, to every Member of Parliament by Votergram.

The Australian people have a fairy tale view of our democracy which causes them to be deprived of the benefits that democracy that it can bring.  Those who understand it benefit greatly. Those who don’t suffer. FairGO, Voters Network, Votergrams and Peak Body Voterlobby have helped Australians guide government for 35 years.

Now Voters Network is offering the opportunity to every Australian voter or potential voter.

You may wish to view the playlist of 6 videos which introduces this series on understanding Australian democracy.

In  truth democracy is pretty much the same in the USA, UK, France, Germany, NZ and many other countries where it is also misunderstood, causing voter frustration. The solutions are easy but require a small amount of time effort and money.

You can have unimaginable power and influence to us as Christ suggested. A good starting point is to join Voters Network, contact  me, greg@fairgo.org or send a Votergram to all Members of Parliament telling them what you want and why. FairGO and the Votergram service have been built about Christ’s teachings, like the woman knocking on the judges door, the parable of the sower, the Good Samaritan, Ask and you will receive. Come to me you who are heavy laden.

We know how you can influence government because we have been doing it for 35 years, quietly without fuss.

You can build your own Voters Network Interest Group to promote the issue that most concerns you or join an existing interest group.

Greg

 

A letter-writer to the Sydney Morning Herald 1/2/22 wrote “ It’s time the major parties took a stand to show that integrity and honesty in government count.”

Integrity and honesty have never counted much in any government in any country in any century that I have heard of.

Another letter- writer in SMH 2/1/22 wrote “everyone is a life-long, fully paid-up member of the What’s-In-It-For-Me society” I don’t know if that is completely true either.

Combine the two and you have a good idea of how a large part of society and much of government works – doing what is best for themselves. That’s okay, as long as we recognise it. It is a problem if we don’t.

Voters Network, along with FairGO Voterlobby and Votergrams, have for 35 years helped Aussies get governments doing what Aussies want, by showing how doing so will be best for Australia and best for those MPs who represent them in parliament .

Don’t be deluded into thinking honesty and integrity rule Australia. Voter oversight, party-free is what encourages honesty and integrity. This is what Christianity is about, doing our bit to make the world a better place.

The idea of flying the Aboriginal flag regularly on the Sydney Harbour Bridge seems to have some worthwhile advantages and very few disadvantages. If you would like to see that happen please let me know.

The highly respected Republican Peter FitzSimons recommends a hybrid Republic with candidates for President nominated by each state government then voted on by the people. “It is primarily ceremonial, to call elections and endorse government”.

Why, if abandoning Royalty, would Aussies hanker after the expensive and dangerous ceremonial trappings of Royalty that actually deprive voters of direct control of their own democracy, as Labor voters believe happened with Gough Whitlam? God warned his people about appointing Kings and what it would cost them and it did. Presidents are like Kings and really have no place in a genuine elected democracy.

The country can be well run by our elected MPs and PM. I am surprised that Mr. FitzSimons would set up a repeat of The Dismissal. He sees us getting an “eminent person”. “This process ensures that Australia’s most distinguished, respected and trusted citizens will be in the starting line- up.”

More likely we will get an ex-politician, a friend of politicians or somebody that 90% of Australians don’t know, respect or trust. Politicians will pick the President to look after them, not the people. In a country of 26 million, voters will get a choice from 11 mostly unknown candidates.

This person, Mr. FitzSimons says “ Will represent and embody the dignity of the Australian people.” What, all 26 million of us?? The president would appoint as PM the person who controls the majority in Parliament.”

The Australian voters already appoint the PM by the party they vote into power. They do not need a “President” to endorse or reject that.

If Australians want a republic the role of the Governor General should surely just disappear. The PM who the voters elect should be the head of state. That is how Australian see their PM now. Most would not even know who the current GG was, or care.

The President would not be responsible to the people, but to the state governments who put that person forward. This person would be able to dismiss an elected government!!

Voters are far more able in 2022 to control inappropriate action by their MPs than was the case 50 years ago in 1972. It is now 35 years since I launched the Votergram Service, Voterlobby, FairGO and Voters Network. Voters are far more engaged with government than they were then.

In almost all cases politicians now accept sensible and fair solutions suggested to them by Voters. The Australian voters, not a politically appointed President, should be the ones to have Total Control and thus enjoy “Government by the people, for the people”. If they are denied that, a quick campaign by voters in some marginal electorates soon changes the government.

Politicians and the people are a good combination. It is hard to see why that would not work well.  Australians can do ceremony, without forgoing control of government.

Jesus did not get into home buying, but many Christians, young and old, do face that challenge and it is getting harder. Buying a house can be a lot better than burying money  in the ground or putting it on term deposit.

The combined impact of house price and interest rate determines a monthly loan repayment on a home loan. So if interest rates are low, as now, people can pay more for a similar home than we did but the repayments still remain similar to when we borrowed @ 11.5% p.a.

But the house price never varies from the day of purchase, whereas the interest rate can rise. So it is not that simple! Paying a higher price for the house with low interest rate borrowings to begin with, poses a far greater risk to the borrower.

If the interest rate were to rise from 3% to 9% on a $700,000 loan the interest would rise from $1,750 a month ($21,000 pa) to $5,250 a month ($63,000 pa), quite a difference.

Assessing how much to pay for a house is not as simple as looking at the quoted monthly repayments unless the interest rate is fixed for the term of the loan.

For home buyers, a touring holiday of inland cities and towns in their state might reveal a beautiful environment where housing is a quarter of the price of capital city housing; people are nicer because the population is smaller and people get to know their neighbours and communities; the air is cleaner and healthier; there are more wide open spaces for children; the land is flatter and better suited to walking or cycling and solar power is abundant.

Just holidaying is fun anyway as well as interesting and informative. It may also open new horizons.

We are always happy to provide professional assistance based on Christ’s teachings, whether it is dealing with banks through GBAC, building strength for political persuasion through Voters Network , running political persuasion campaigns through FairGO or helping organisations gain political leverage through their membership via our Peak Body Voterlobby

Votergrams helped bring Australian David Hicks home from Guantanamo Bay. Those who want Julian Assange to be tried and dealt with in the UK  or Australia should use Votergrams to help Aussie MPs persuade their US counterparts.

That some jailing is failing in many cases to prevent crime is self-evident. If interested in backing the Justice Reform Initiative to find more effective solutions for our safety, please email greg@fairgo.org with “Cut crime” in the subject line. I will get back to you. It will not happen without substantial voter support which is most effectively conveyed by Votergram!

Those wanting greater choice of vaccines can make their views known by Votergrams to the most powerful people in Australia – all federal MPs. Votergrams are the most cost-effective means of influencing government.

As Christmas approaches it is worth thinking about what we can give to improve the lives of the least advantaged Aussies and how that will also improve our own lives. Australians have unique tools and strategies available to them through FairGO, Voterlobby, Voters Network and Votergrams. Power and influence spread over the Australian people is the least corrupting and most effective of all.

Instead of huffing and puffing about blowing China’s Taiwan house down if the USA wants us to, we might be better to use our trade as a negotiating tool. We buy a heap from China that we could subject to high tariffs as they did to our wine and we export a heap of coal and primary products to China that we could  stop. Talk and trade are a lot better bargaining chips than bombs and battleships.

Come on Christians, come on. Flex your muscles and guide the government. It is your country. You pay the taxes. You elect the politicians to represent you. Ask properly and you will mostly receive what you want if it is fair and good for others too. Don’t leave it all to God.

You could help stop corruption, neglect and incompetence spoiling our Australian dream – just by getting a tiny bit involved!

Would you please consider sparing 5 minutes a month (an hour a year) to share your Christian perspective on issues that interest you?

How much corruption, neglect and incompetence in government can you tolerate before it seriously damages all of our lives & those of children and grandchildren? We are all busy, but our democracy is driven by those who get involved, for those who get involved and those for whom they care. Just as Pilate was driven by the self-interested crowd chanting “crucify”, Australia is also driven.

At present, due to voter neglect, Australia is driven by the rich and powerful, the media barons, politicians, political parties and political donors, all primarily for themselves. Most people, quite logically, think of themselves first.

600 Australians already work, free of party politics, with FairGO and Voters Network or use Votergrams to help politely and persistently guide our parliaments along an honest and fair path. But there are 16 million voters in Australia, so we need more than 600 people to share their views on what should be done.

Please join Voters Network, voters.com.au/join.php now and do your bit for Australia. It is free and funded by member donations and fees for services, no government money!

But what does Christ’s comment on what God wants tell us in respect of our criminal justice system?

How does society treat the victim and the perpetrator relative to one another? Should we spend more of taxpayer money on the offender than on the victim, as often happens?

What do we seek after a person is found guilty of a crime of violence?

Revenge? Punishment? Rehabilitation? Protection from that person?

What will produce what we want in the best way?

If we see these questions relevant to what Christ had to teach us, we need to consider the questions in relation to what we expect government to do.

In a democracy the parliamentarians seek to please the voters in order to help them and to be re-elected. That works well for everyone, provided the voters tell their MPs what they want.  Unfortunately even dedicated Christians often omit to do that.

The result is that society does not benefit from Christ’s wisdom. I have a friend whose son was shot and killed by thieves. He hated those men who killed his son, but on discovering that they could not read at all well, he took educational books to them in gaol to help them learn to read and so become more educated and able to live better lives when released. That is kindness.

If Christians do not effectively let MPs know what they want done. It most likely will not be done. MPs need to hear it from individual Christians, not churches. They know what churches want. What they need to know is what voters want.

The best way for any Christian to do that is to send a Votergram to every Member of Parliament. It is an extremely inexpensive way to influence society as Christ asks us to do. Votergrams are provided by Christians to help democratic societies to work as God would like them to work. Jesus did not expect the Government to do the work. He moved around, did it himself and urged others to do the same.

God has given us this magnificent system of government – democracy – that lets us all influence what our governments do. We need to invest our time skills and money to use what He has given us and ask Him to help us do our bit rather than solve the problem for us.

“Take up your cross and follow me” he said. Votergrams make a very light cross that can help us move the “mountains” of government.

Very little in life comes free and good government certainly does not, as is obvious, no matter how much we believe that it should.

I once trusted and believed that it did. Now I know that’s Nonsense! When I think about it, it was the same in Christ’s time too.

These prime groups exert pressure on government to do what they want:

1.The rich and powerful, generally looking after their own interests.

2.The lobbyists for large publicly listed corporations or large vested interest organisations.

3.The media pushing the interests of its owners and advertisers.

4 Political party members and executives on whose support MPs depend for re-election.

5.Party donors who do not even have to mention their donation when seeking favours. That is understood. They are careful to provide good reasons in writing to prove it was nothing to do with their donation.

6.The individual Members of Parliament themselves.

7.Vocal Voters in the electorates who get to know their local MP well.

8.Those who send Votergrams to convince every MP that change is needed and explain why.

9.Those who are empowered by FairGO’s strategies and services to help them influence government

10 Members of Voters Network

Politicians can only do the will of the community if individual community members speak up themselves. That is the only way politicians can be sure of what the community wants.

Organisations and the media frequently claim to speak for “Australians”, but very often they only speak for some. There are organisations that I have or do belong to that lobby for exactly the opposite of what I want government to do.

To have a say, receive a fair go and enjoy good government, a voter is well advised to use one of the services linked above. Then they and all Members of Parliament will know exactly what they want done and why.

The FairGO Formula favours empowering individual voters, because that is the least corrupting power there is. Do you have a concern? When you want to fix it, try FairGO! It strategies are based on Christ’s teachings and they have proven very effective for 35 years. I was called out of my Chartered Accountancy practice to help voters build the sort of fair, kind and just society that God wants, without empowering myself anymore than anyone else.