Any hope for a working democracy dashed with online petitions

[Kadie]

Oh my! :wow:


Any hope for a working democracy dashed with online petitions
Peter Hartlaub

Wednesday, August 10, 2005


For better or worse, every vote counts at PetitionOnline.com. And considering all the injustice going on in the world, the subjects that get people outraged can be quite depressing.

The Web site includes a list of 2,645 people demanding that "The Smurfs" be released on DVD, 1,942 fans lobbying for a Canadian Football League video game and 14,469 activists -- enough to fill a hockey arena -- fighting to bring "Star Trek: Enterprise" back from cancellation. Meanwhile, on the same site, an attempt to save Social Security has gathered 25 signatures, and only 35 people care enough to endorse same-sex marital rights.

For signs that democracy isn't working, look no further than the half dozen major Web sites specializing in the collection of petition signatures. The list of topics are a cultural kick in the groin -- proof that Americans have way too much time on their hands, spend a dangerous amount of hours fretting about the content of "Star Wars" sequels and are more interested in saving their favorite TV shows ("We Want a Second Season of 'Witchblade' ": 342 signatures) than saving their fellow man ("Stop the Deportation of Steven Darbasie": 78 signatures).

The human instinct to champion stupid causes is a phenomenon that predates Internet petition sites. There's a psychiatrist in San Diego County who has spent the past 10 years trying to get the "Star-Spangled Banner" lowered from B-flat to G major. Al Sharpton has been trying to get elected for twice that long. But there's something about the Web that turns people exponentially more kooky, especially when their quest to change the sleeve design on the Seattle Seahawks uniform is sharing space at the server farm with legitimate issues.

For example: When crowds took to San Francisco streets last month to support the Giants anti-mascot Crazy Crab -- ditched in 1985 in part because fans were hurling bottles at it -- it made for a few humorous stories on a slow news day. But when the same fight was taken to the Web, it seemed kind of twisted. Can citizens really be more concerned for fictitious animals ("Bring Back the Crazy Crab!": 776 signatures) than real ones ("Put an End to Fox Hunting": 395 signatures)?

more...
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/08/10/DDG29E1RCO17.DTL

[justinsb]

1. lol

how very funy, and sad. Nominated!