this post was submitted on 20 Nov 2024
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Politics

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[–] Manticore 13 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

If anything they're the opposite. The petitions themselves are not binding, and if they're not directly to institutions then they're probably not even noticed.

...but they do convince signers that they've 'done something', the catharsis of which makes them less likely to do something that actually matters.

[–] millie 3 points 6 hours ago

Yeah, that's my thought. People sign a petition and go 'welp, I've done my part!' when they've literally done nothing constructive whatsoever.

[–] DdCno1 4 points 9 hours ago

This reminds me of a scathing bit in I think "Bowling for Columbine" that covered a group of well-meaning women and their ineffective political activism. They made a bit of ruckus in some senator's office, then had tea and cake afterwards patting each other on the back.