Most of us know this. We asked that referendums be made binding. They did not become binding and laws opposite to what we wanted happened instead.

We asked for transparency, a democratic right, yet documents relating to the Free Trade Agreement, orchestrated by the Obama group remain hidden from the public and discussed behind closed doors. These documents from information leaked to the public, seem to give power to corporations, who can sue governments who make laws that cause them financial distress.This is an absolute disabling of governments' right to legislate for the benefit of their own people and enables multinational companies to call their own shots.

We asked for no flag change so we could maintain some stability in an ever-changing world, not because some of the flags aren't great - I love the one designed in Tauranga with the Southern Cross, Maori Tino Rangatiratanga flag and the fern.

But I might not get that and instead would have to vote on a pre-selection, most likely not determined by the public.

Wake up New Zealanders and do what little you can in your sphere of influence.

Together we can all bring some pressure to bear somehow, even if the problem seems too big.

Remember democracy is by the people for the people and should make the world a better place.

Politicians must stop pandering to those with the money - corporations who fund election campaigns - and remember our children and future generations who require and hope that honestly and transparency in lawmaking will prevail.

By the way is lawmaking that rejects democratic consultation and transparency even legal? Then why are our politicians even putting us in this awful position of making us have too fight for our rights?

A Mcmillan, Tauranga City.