The Power of Internet Petitions
If there’s one identifiable aspect of the new political scene that separates progressives from conservatives it’s in how we use the Internet. The new use of petitions appears to be the best tool against the blunt and brutal force of the Republican agenda , namely, that of taking state legislatures via Gerrymandering, then using the majority numbers of Republican electors to ram through new laws in a massive attempt to takeover America. In so doing they are shifting our laws and our institutions into the camp and under the control of ideologues surrounded by a vast wasteland of “conservative values.” Ramming through legislation is the apt term because the great majority of Americans have shown repeatedly that they do not share in the conservative values. But in state after state Republicans have effectively replaced the “one person, one vote” rule with Gerrymandering, manipulation, and rigging of elections with unconscionable voting law changes, union busting, unemployment and right to work law changes, municipality management, women’s rights, LGBT rights, and educational objectives with the additional goal that they retain control for a very long time. [i] It is a grandiose agenda of taking from the poor and the middle class and giving to the wealthy, or Robin Hood in reverse.
Now, a counter measure to all this political rigging and ramming is underway. It is in the form of Internet petitions, a new way for the voices of the majority to be heard instantly and effectively.
Today almost anyone can start a petition, and in a matter of days have a hundred thousand signatures of those who are empathetic to his or her cause. With the rise of the World Wide Web as a platform for commerce, activism and discussion, an opportunity to garner attention for various social causes was perceived by various players, resulting in a more formalized structure for online petitions. One of the first web-based petition hosts, PetitionOnline, was founded in 1999, with others such as thePetitionSite.com, iPetitions, GoPetitions and others being established in the years since. Petition hosts served as accessible external locations for the creation of a wide variety of petitions for free by users, providing easier interfaces for such petitions in comparison to the previous e-mail petitions and informal web forum-based petitions. However, petition hosts were criticized for their lax requirements from users who created or signed such petitions: Petitions were often only signed with false or anonymous nomenclatures, and often resulted in disorganized side commentary between signers of the same petition.
The rise of online social networking in the later 2000s, however, resulted in both an increase of Internet petition integration into social networks and an increase of visibility for such petitions; Facebook, Change.org, Care2, Avaaz.org and other sites serve as examples of the integration of Internet petitions as a form of social media and user-generated content. Such networks may have proven to be more fertile ground for the creation of, signing of and response to online petitions, as such networks generally lack the heightened level of anonymity associated with the earlier dedicated petition hosts. [ii]
Does signing petitions work? The short answer is yes—signing petitions works. Petitions put pressure on governments, corporations and others in positions of authority. They also make everyday people aware of important issues, making it more likely they will discuss them with friends, family, and neighbors. The more people speak out—via online and real-life communities, social media and citizen journalism—the more an issue is noticed, and the less an issue can be ignored. Governments, corporations and societies are forced to listen and make changes.
The reason we have such apathy in society today is because most people believe it's too difficult to have an impact and/or they don't believe they personally can make a difference. Because online activism makes it easy to get involved, millions more people than ever before are speaking up and taking action. And that's a good thing. Ask any hardcore activist you know - their first action probably wasn't storming the White House. Usually, activists start with simple steps, get some positive feedback, and then take it to a higher level. If we want a more engaged democracy we need to make it easy for as many people as possible to feel the joy of those first simple steps. Internet petitions are effectively a "gateway drug" to more civic engagement
How To Create a Good Petition. A good petition is the foundation of a good campaign. If a petition is not clear and well presented, then people will not want to sign it. To create a good petition, you should:
Set an Achievable Goal. A realistic, achievable advocacy goal will make it easier for people to sign onto your petition. Having too many goals, or trying to do too much with one petition, can make it hard to communicate your point and may confuse people. Also, aim for an optimistic, but realistic number of signatures. For example, aiming for 1,000,000 signatures is probably too ambitious.
Select an Effective Target. A target is a person, position, or organization that can make your advocacy goal happen. If that person/organization refuses to change, then consider those who might influence him/her/them. Possibilities include:
· Local or national legislators
· City or community officials
· Local media
· Local or national businesses
· International entities, such as the U.N.
Show People How Your Cause Impacts Them. As a result, they will be more likely to take action. Also, when your issue is in the news, take advantage of the fact and gather signatures as quickly as you can.
Write a Clear, Concise, and Compelling Petition Summary. A compelling petition summary contains the following:
· Call to action: Tell people right away why they are signing, within the first or second sentence.
· Background information: Provide one or two sentences of background information.
· Supporting facts: If it makes sense, include a short list of 2–3 facts supporting your petition's appeal. You should assume most people don't have the time to read all your information, so be brief.
· Final call to action: One sentence restating your call to action.
· Additional information: If you want to include more detailed background information, do so at the bottom, or include a link to more information.
· Include an image: Select a compelling image that speaks to the heart of your issue. Pictures with people or animals looking at the reader are often most effective. Most people are turned off by graphic images; try not to use them.
· DON'T FORGET TO SPELLCHECK! A poorly written petition filled with spelling and grammar mistakes will take away from the credibility of your petition.
Write an Effective Letter to Send to Your Target. To write an effective letter, consider the following:
· Be polite: Don't attack your target and put them on the defensive. They won't listen to your petition unless you are polite and respectful.
· Make your purpose clear: Be sure to state what you want the target to do at the beginning of the letter.
· Provide details: Tell your target why you want them to do this, and support your statement with facts. However, don't make the letter too long, or your target won't read it.
· Proofread and SPELLCHECK: You want to look professional. Typos will keep your target from taking you seriously.
Finally, make sure you're sending it to the right person. You don't want to do all the work and then find out that your target has nothing to do with the decision-making process for your issue. [iii]
One hallmark of democracy is that truth will always win out in the marketplace of ideas—in the long run. Unfortunately, we all live in the short-run where money talks and truth walks. The Internet petition is the fastest way to make your point of view known without excessive costs, but with the certain knowledge that others who share your concerns can join with you. One voice shouting in the darkness has little effect. But tens of millions of voices coming in constant tidal waves of expression via petitions is the new way to knock down barriers, to free yourself from dishonest shackles, and for truth to emerge. It’s worth a shot.
[i][i] Examples: The legislatures in Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Virginia have all recently come under Republican control via Gerrymandering and election rigging following the 2010 census. The Democratic national ticket won in the battle of ideas in all of those states in 2012 but could not wrest control from the Republicans because of the Gerrymandering.
Sometimes a bit of restraint, and the necessity of choosing one's battles, is necessary.
ChipB
My only criticism is that even with my myopia, great for reading small print, the size of the text may be taxing on the average citizen with reading glasses. ;-)
Ron