Citizens Opposed to Bureaucratic Bullying and Excessive Regulation
What Is to Be Done?
Enlighten Your Local Bureaucrats
Thanks to the kindness of a printer who is inspired to help COBBERs, we can help to spread the good word in your neck of the woods at very little cost to you.
If you send us stamped addressed envelopes, one or any number, normal business size (which can take the newsletter folded into 3), we will insert a COBBERs Article or whole Newsletter of your choice in each one and post them off. This can be councillors, council officers, or state or federal buros – or just friends, acquaintances, or other interested persons.
(from Newsletter #2)
SPREADING the GOOD WORD
We have printed up several thousand COBBERs brochures. These are 1 sheet of paper (A4) folded into 3, normal sized leaflets.We call it the green brochure.
If you have a possible outlet for our green brochures, please let us know and we will send you 100. If you need more, please explain your need and we will send more.
(from Newsletter #2)
SHARING these IDEAS
Readers of COBBERs website, please understand that you are welcome to copy and duplicate any whole article(s) from these newsletters, so long as you add these words somewhere on the document:
www.cobbers.org.au
(from Newsletter #2)
Yes, I Can See the Problem, but
WHAT CAN I DO?
1. JOIN THE RESISTANCE
First and foremost, stand up to bureaucracy whenever you are mistreated. In resisting bureaucratic bullying and excessive regulation, you are not only upholding your own quality of life, but also protecting others who may be more vulnerable, and you are making the world a better place for those who come after you.
Oppression can grow only if we do not stand up for ourselves.
Who is a COBBER? A COBBER is any Citizen Opposed to Bureaucratic Bullying and Excessive Regulation!
2. COBBERS AREN’T DOBBERS
Bureaucratic bullies will accept even the most miserable complaints to justify their existence. Do not invoke officials against a fellow citizen unless that citizen is causing real harm and cannot be negotiated with in any other way. Never use government officers as instruments of spite or revenge.
3. OFFICERS CAN BE COBBERS
Society needs good bureaucrats. A COBBER serving as an officer puts the interests of the people first, even if risking their job in doing so. These people should be supported.
4. BE A COBBER TO A FELLOW CITIZEN
Where someone you know is being given an unfairly hard time by bureaucrats, decide to help this person by
(a) supportive discussion,
(b) getting useful advice if you can,
(c) going with them to the bureau involved, (d) helping them write their letter, or (e) speaking on their behalf.
Your support will show them that they are not alone, and help them to protect their rights.
No bureaucracy can deny a citizen the personal support of their friend, because it is the very act of mutual support that gives rise to society, which in turn appoints the bureaucracy which serves it. If a bureaucracy tries to separate a citizen from his or her friend the better to bully them, please tell the story to the Editor of COBBERs.
5. FORM a COBBERs AID PARTY
When a citizen is being treated unreasonably, you may create or join a band of COBBERs to give aid. (See the article A COBBERs AID PARTY). This is a non-violent way of embarrassing the offending bureaucracy while helping the citizen in trouble.
6. SPEAK and RAISE AWARENESS
Address groups on the ideals of COBBERs, which is not political or revolutionary. It is a common sense response to an ancient problem which has surfaced in our era. It is the restoration of a fair go for citizens.
Making a COBBERs speech is just a matter of pointing out what the purpose of government is in a democracy [to make life better for the people], where it is failing [fining and charging rackets, bureaucratic bullying and excessive regulation] and what we can do about it (See the COBBERs Code of Good Regulation), the Legislative Changes we would like to see (see The Aims of COBBERs), and/or this list of WHAT CAN I DO?
7. READ the COBBERS NEWSLETTER
Forward items from the COBBERs website to interested friends or relevant bureaucracies. Even if you are not sure about these matters, be informed. See what people are thinking and decide for yourself what position you should take on the proper relationship between bureaucrats and other citizens.
8. CONTRIBUTE to the CAUSE
Ask us for brochures you can read or distribute. Support COBBERs work, spreading the word to a wider audience via the Newsletter, the Web Page, the Brochures, and any other means that the Editor finds to awaken more people. One can also donate to COBBERs – whether a member or not.
Note: none of the COBBERs funds go to pay writers or contributors. Funds are used only for mailing costs, printing and materials.
9. CONTRIBUTE to the WEBSITE
Feed precise and concise information to the Editor of the COBBERs website. The role of Editor is (a) to be committed to the restoration of bureaucracy to its rightful role as servant of the people, (b) to communicate clearly in plain English, and (c) to work without financial profit. The content is primarily chosen (d) to recite the simple principles of a genuine democratic bureaucracy, (e) to tell of the degeneration of bureaucracy, to report major trends and give accurate examples, and (f) to share ideas on what can be done to improve the situation.
(from Newsletter #3)
www.cobbers.org.au