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Why? So we can get a vaguely worded response from a staffer which dodges any commitments? I think petitions accomplish very little. If we thought they do anythi
by logn 14y ago
Why? So we can get a vaguely worded response from a staffer which dodges any commitments? I think petitions accomplish very little. If we thought they do anything, wouldn't we look at the petitions to secede as very serious? Think how lightly we take those? That's how the government sees all of them.
- d4mi3n 14y agoGenerally, effective petitions need to do two things: 1. Put pressure on a specific person or group of people to make a specific change. 2. Bring attention of an issue to a larger audience (i.e.: the press, a congressmen's constituents, etc) Having those things goes a long way to making these online petitions useful, but without them you'd just end blowing around a lot of hot air.
- logn 14y ago1. No pressure is brought (Obama's not even up for re-election, but I wouldn't feel differently if he were) 2. Usually the only people who know about a petition are already aware of the issue (case in point, unlocking cellphones petition on HN)
- stfu 14y agoPetitions are even giving a false sense of accomplishment as those people signing it think they have made a contribution to the political process - while in the end achieving absolutely nothing. Even worse, they allow government to show how engaged and open they are by listening to the voice of the people. All for the cost of having some intern draft sugar coated "everything is gonna be alright" responses. Media coverage of petitions such as the death start or the Piers Morgan controversy even enforce the perception, that petitions are not more than a bad joke to give "some weirdos" a place to voice their "problems".