I knocked this up a few years ago when I thought we still had some time to effect a counter revolution. Unfortunately, it seems that time has passed with practically no interest anywhere. Although there might still be a slight chance of forming a co-operative of minor parties to present a major, united challenge to the abjectly treasonous “major parties” the prospect looks bleak.

I have presented the idea of a co-operative effort by all the “minor parties” to all the “minor parties” that I could track down but I don't recall even an acknowledgement from any. Parties seem to be formed by folk who like to demand a personal alliegance to themselves and their ideals... kinda like “it's me and my ideals or the bush”.

Anyhow, for your consideration:

A Draft Proposal For An

AUSTRALIAN PATRIOT'S CO-OPERATIVE LTD.

Preamble:

There are a number of small parties in Australian politics that have under-exploited potential because they cannot attract popular support due to too small, narrow and specialised an ideological root for their platform; along with a deep cynicism of the value of Party Politics in the plebiscite at large. Most people instinctively know that in voting for a Party candidate they do nothing more than “endorse” the Party's lackey, chosen by the Party to represent its interest.

Most often those interests and the “beneficiaries” of those interests are very carefully hidden and disguised so that even the people representing those interests are largely unaware of who and what they are serving.

The smaller Parties, often in spite of noble ideals, are hampered in having neither the resources nor the stimulus to broaden their horizons to see how neatly the isolated ideals of many minor parties complement one another when they are combined into a common purpose to promote and preserve the commonwealth of individuals with cultural stability, national integrity, and a sense of justice for all.

Proposed solution:

Invert the present Party System! to ensure that candidates presented for parliamentary elections are genuine representatives of, and from, the electorate. That is, to ensure that candidates are appointed “from the bottom up” and that they are accountable “from the top down”; in other words, every appointee is immediately accountable to the team that appointed them to be their representative.

It should begin with small groups of grass roots members with common interests and/or geographical association who discuss and define their objectives, become a “primary co-operative unit,” to appoint one of their number to represent their interests and concerns in another (secondary) level co-op of appointees from other primary co-ops which appoints one of their number to represent them at the next level of a co-operative council. So on up to a Council of the Electorate which appoints one of their number to represent the electorate in Parliamentary Elections. Every member at every level is directly accountable as an appointee of the co-op that appointed him to represent them and will be obliged to account for his actions or inaction as required by his appointers.

How then?

A legally constituted Australian Patriot's Co-Operative Ltd. open to every Australian citizen who agrees with the published constitution and rules and complies with the conditions of membership. This Co-op will be composed of independent member co-ops that are composed of independent individual members.

I suggest that the Constitution, Rules, Aims and Objectives be formulated very generally so that anyone can form or join an interest group (Primary Cooperative) based on geographical location, profession, religious affiliation or anything else as long as their intentions are legal and directed toward the prosperity and sovereignty of Australia as a nation and the common good of its citizens as individuals, such as will be described in the Constitution and Objectives.

The plan is that "policies" will not be formulated and imposed by an elite of "policy formulators" at the "top"; but that policy will be "condensed" out of the aspirations of the members. One of the best attributes of a co-op is that it is specifically designed to be autonomously owned and controlled by its members with the mandatory “one member, one vote” without regard for the social, economic or political status of any member. As such it is not very attractive to ambitious megalomaniacs who would like to install themselves at the head of a pack of servants. The roles are reversed so that the appointed officials are the representatives of the membership.

The following is reproduced and adapted from

“CO-OPERATIVES: GOOD BUSINESS GUIDE”

The Government of Western Australia; Department of Commerce

What is a co-operative?

1. A co-operative is an autonomous association of persons who voluntarily join together to meet common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.

Co-operative principles

The following seven guiding principles distinguish a co-operative from other business structures. These are set out in section 6 of the Act.

1. Voluntary and open membership

Co-operatives are voluntary organisations, open to anyone able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

2. Democratic member control

Co-operatives are democratic organisations controlled by their members who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. Those serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In a co-operative, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote).

3. Economic participation

Members contribute and control the capital of their co-operative in an equitable, democratic way. At least part of the capital contributed by members is usually the common property of the co-operative. Limited compensation, if any, is received on capital contributed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surplus funds for purposes such as:

• developing the co-operative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible;

• benefiting members in proportion to their (service to, or) transactions with the co-operative; and

• supporting other activities approved by the membership.

• 4. Autonomy and independence

• Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organisations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organisations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their co-operative autonomy.

• 5. Education, training and information

• Co-operatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public about the nature and benefits of co-operation.

• 6. Co-operation among co-operatives

• By serving their members effectively, co-operatives strengthen the co-operative movement by working through local, national, regional and international structures.

7. Concern for the community

While focusing on members’ needs, co-operatives support the sustainable

development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.

Non-distributing co-operative

For a non-distributing co-operative it is possible for the active membership rule to require simply the payment of a regular subscription that would be applied to a primary activity of the co-operative.

To help explain “primary activity” and “active membership”, the following example shows how the two fit together.

The fit for a non-distributing co-operative providing community services could be:

Primary activity: The provision of community services (e.g. political representation based on common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations) of members.

Active membership provision: A member must reside within the state electorate(s) of ......and pay an annual subscription under rule xx. Register a vote in relevant actions according to rule xxx.

Overview of Act and Regulations

The Act was designed to provide co-operatives with appropriate tools for their formation and day-to-day operation.

Specifically, the Act:

• makes provision for the formation, registration and operation of co-operatives;

• promotes internationally recognised principles, practices and objectives for co-operatives;

• protects the interests of co-operatives, their members and the public in the operations and activities of co-operatives;

• makes directors of co-operatives accountable to members for their actions and decisions;

• encourages and helps co-operatives to manage themselves at all levels of the organisation; and

• provides a framework for the development of the co-operative sector at local, regional, national and international levels.

Is becoming a co-operative the right choice?

• If you belong to a group with a common interest, deciding which legal structure to use in pursuit of your goals is a very important decision.

• There are a number of options available, including:

• forming a partnership and operating under a registered business name;

• incorporating as an association;

• forming a co-operative; or

• forming a limited liability company. (Note: A co-op is necessarily a limited liability company but it is differentiated from purely commercial companies whose purpose is to extract profits by being essentially to benefit its members in their stated objectives)

• The Department of Commerce can provide information on registering a business name, incorporating an association or forming a co-operative to help your organisation make the right choice.

(Reproduced and adapted from “CO-OPERATIVES: GOOD BUSINESS GUIDE” from The Government of Western Australia Department of Commerce)

The Government regulations governing co-ops may seem onerous and restrictive at first sight, but, if considered carefully and dispassionately, they are only an an objective independent check to ensure that the co-op is what it says it is and does what it says it does... that is, it is fair, open and accountable to its member owners... and that it is not just a front for some “shady” dealings. Such could hardly be objected to by anyone not wanting to rort the company for their own aggrandisement, profit or control.

Some initial suggestions for setup (inauguration).

There will need to be at least 5 initial determined and committed potential members to draft a constitution and rules and to apply for registration as a co-op and as a political entity. With registration an advertising campaign to attract membership (desirably every eligible voter in the nation) will have to be undertaken. Once started it will be hoped that “word-of-mouth” will take over.

Some suggestions for rules of operation.

Membership will be available (subject to agreement with the constitution and rules) to any organisation or individual. (An organisation is one member and gets one vote).

Members of a locality will register as members of one “Primary Cooperative Unit” of at least 12 members. (Very large “Units” are undesirable as the members are unlikely to know each other personally and thus become liable to “electioneering” and “lobbying” by unknown candidates trying to “sell themselves” to an uninformed plebiscite).

Each “Primary Co-op” will appoint, by election, one of their number to represent the Co-op at the next tier or “Secondary Co-op” consisting of appointees of about 12 “Primary Co-ops”, each “Secondary Co-op” will appoint one of its members to a “Tertiary Co-op”, and so on until a “Final Co-op” or “Council of the Electorate” which will appoint (by election appointment) the candidate to the Parliamentary election.

The intention is that "policies" will not be formulated and imposed by an elite of "policy formulators" at the "top"; but that policy will be "condensed" out of the aspirations of the members.

To this end each appointee will collaborate with, and report to, the Unit that appointed them by whatever means is available and effective. (I suggest circularised newsletters and voting forms [as required] because physical formal meetings are very onerous with time and travel and can be intimidating).

Suggested method of selecting appointees by election.

Any member of a Unit can nominate any other member of that Unit but themselves as a candidate. A candidate that accepts nomination must reveal their affiliations, political or “philosophical” bias, and any loyalties (e.g. secret societies, dual citizenship, etc.) so that the voting members know who they are considering for the appointment.

Members vote for nominees of their choice. The nominee with fewest votes drops out and remaining nominees contest again and so on until there are two left of which the one with most votes is appointed. However, if fewer than 2/3 of entitled members vote in the final the election is invalid. Try again.

Onerousness of appointment.

An appointee, as a representative of their Co-op must report to and collaborate with their appointers and supporters. If the appointee is in any way compromised in their ability to fairly undertake the task due to ill health, incapacity, threats, bribery, blackmail etc. he should take counsel with them that appointed him to help solve the problem. He can resign his appointment and be replaced at any time if he cannot be strengthened and supported by the co-op he is representing.

Rescinding an appointment.

An appointee who is seen to be inadequate by his appointors can be removed by a 75% majority of co-op members after he has had the opportunity to defend, explain or excuse himself to his co-op. Replacement will be by the “normal” election protocol.

Co-op appointees elected to a parliament.

If at all possible, it should be made plain to everyone concerned that it is the co-op that is elected and their personal representative may be removed and replaced at any time by a 75% majority of the “Council of the Electorate” that appointed him as their representative as per “rescinding an appointment” above.

To that end, the salary due to the M.P. Should be paid to the co-op which will pay their representative in Parliament a previously agreed amount or portion. Some will be retained by the co-op ensure its continued existence and effectiveness.

The “Council of the Electorate” will be mainly a support group to collaborate with, encourage and strengthen the co-op's representative in pursuing the stated aims and objectives of that electorate.

Education and maintenance.

At every stage of the concentration of responsibility upwards and the diffusion of authority downwards there is the opportunity for people who agree with the aims and objectives of the co-op and who are knowledgeable in any field of politics, economics, culture and civilisation to reach a ready, sympathetic and effective audience. There will be a database of members to which all relevant, useful information can be put for sympathetic consideration and effective application.

The intention will be to provide information and encouragement to counter the influential minority pressure groups (particularly the hostile media).

An organisation with many members and activities must have an effective maintenance strategy to organise staff to record and organise memberships, keep records and reports of finances and activities for the information of members and other authorities, to organise events and itineraries, answer questions from all and sundry etc. etc.

Appointment of management.

After the initial setup I suggest that management should be undertaken by something like a board of directors appointed by the “Councils of the Electorates” by the same appointments by election process as in all other areas of delegated responsibility. That Board's job would be to select staff (ideally from the membership) to fill posts like secretary, treasurer, events coordinator, memberships manager, etc. as required. They would also oversee the operations of the “Office” to ensure its efficient smooth running according to the Constitution, Rules, Aims and Objectives of the co-op. Salaries, remuneration, recompense of expenses incurred in official business would be the responsibility of that board. (Note: the Board is also appointed by the membership and any Board member is liable to recall and replacement by the membership under the usual conditions and method of rescinding an appointment).

Proposed changes to rules, policy etc. must be approved by a 2/3 majority from the “Primary Co-ops” up to, and including, the “Board of Directors” to assure the long term stability, ownership and control of the company by its members.

A co-operative is about the easiest and cheapest business or social entity to set up as the Department of Commerce team of lawyers have provided a set of “model rules” consisting of the issues that should be considered for the legal, safe and efficient operation of a co-operative. The “model rules” are a series of “fill-in-the-blanks” that may be edited or added to according to the requirements of the proposed co-op. Proposed rules have to be approved by the Registrar to ensure that the proposed co-op is, indeed, a co-op and not just a front for some shady rort.

Conclusion: The purpose of the co-op is to provide the means and structure to ensure that candidates for election to public office are representatives of the community and that they have backup resources and expertise to fulfil their representative obligations and to resist hostile pressure groups who would subvert the Nation to foreign ideological proclivities and personal gain.

Addendum: The “Model Rules” have been revised by the gov't lawyers as of January 2017 so that they reflect more a “Corporation” than a Co-op, but that need not be limiting to the Constitution and Rules that can be tailored to the specific requirements of the aims and objectives of the proposed co-op. Constitution and Rules need to be drafted by an inaugural committee but they may be altered in future if they are found to be inadequate or irrelevant to the operations or objectives of the company.

A Patriot's Co-op is intended to be a viable alternative to the present Party System that is corrupted beyond measure where voters are only given the option to choose which representative of alien interests they will endorse.