Are petitions a waste of time?

Question

The e-petitions section of Britain's Downing Street website claims to answer every petion with 200 or more signatures. Do they actually achieve anything or is it a clever way to allow people to let off steam without troublesome consequences?

Answer 1

Probably.

There are several sites that are attempting to deal with the fact that petitions have no real action associated with them.

The Pledge Bank ( a UK site)

The Point (a US site)

Both attempt to get more done than a petition by stating the concern in an action that will be taken by X number of people if Y occurs.

Answer 2

If it is a tears jerker.

Probably they will look into it.

Will help in solving the misery of living human kind.

Will be better if a solution is attach with it.

So they can look into it too.

By crying out there when they too were at loss and stranded like you and me.

What do we expect them to do without a solution?

So next time come up with a better mouse trap.

What do you think?

Answer 3

They could help

Answer 4

its the latter Im afraid

Answer 5

No, they achieve nothing at all. The chartists achieved things. 200,000 signatures, perhaps, 200 signatures, unlikely.