worse, the dishonesties undermining society in every walk of life, every class of a sup-
posedly classless democracy - together with the childish, false optimism of jingle-
land.

Time is running out! Even if the fat cat is still sitting on the mat, he won't be
there much longer. It may appear a hopeless mission trying to stave off the col-
lapse of a great civilization - particularly to shore up one like our own, still struggle-
ing to emerge from the colonial mists. But who knows, we may succeed in building something
better through our collaboration - you the guardians of the printed word - we, the writers
- all those who read and think for themselves - and any politician in whom we can still
have faith.

Patrick White