UK government actually willing to listen to the population

[Slowpoke]

Take a look at these (http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions) petitions created by the government, located on the government website. If a petition is signed 100'000 times - which, spread by word of mouth, could surely happen - said issue will be debated in the house of commons! Subjects include:



Legalise all recreational drugs
Legalise cannabis
Reintroduce capital punishment
Reintroduce the death penalty

and loads loads loaaaads more!

Thoughts?

EDIT: Note that there is quite a bit of talk about this online at the moment and as such, the pages may not load straight away due to high volume of internet users attempting to view the pages

[Caution]

They'll get out of debating them. There was a system like this in place on the Downing St website a few months ago. It amazes me that the Government want this, despite the fact it's clear what the people want but the people never get what they want.

[Marbian]

Reintroduce the death penalty is a definitely for me.

[GommeInc]

What if we want none of the above? Can't they discuss more meaningful things like the state of the country, the European Union and faith the population have in the UK Government?

[-:Undertaker:-]

The government won't vote on these matters with what the population want (to leave the European Union, to tighten immigration, reintroduce the death penalty and end foreign aid) because the three main parties think that they know better than you and I - and they will continue this way until we stop voting for them with the excuse of 'it will keep the other one out'. The Swiss system of direct democracy, of which UKIP want to introduce, allows for binding referendums of which the people can overrule parliament and the government which is one reason why Switzerland is not a member of the European Union despite its politicians wanting to be a part of it. Under the Swiss system, the people propose the referendum and the government cannot block or overrule the results which I think is fantastic.

This petition idea is rather pointless compared to what we really need, the Swiss system of direct democracy. However, what I do like about it is that its forcing these issues to the top of debate, whereas our left wing consensus (the Lib/Lab/Con) has attempted to keep these issues as undebatable, branding people who want to discuss the issues I mentioned above as racists, xenophobes, little englanders and so forth.

[Red]

Hope not. I'm against every one of those so yeh.

[Shar]

Same, I'm against most of these, I'm unsure about the death penalty though.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Hope not. I'm against every one of those so yeh.


Same, I'm against most of these, I'm unsure about the death penalty though.

Although both of you would agree its wrong for the government to ignore what a large portion of the public want despite your own opinions, right?

[Shar]

Although both of you would agree its wrong for the government to ignore what a large portion of the public want despite your own opinions, right?
Right, it's nice that they're going to debate about it, but as you said above, I'd prefer a referendum really.

[Red]

Although both of you would agree its wrong for the government to ignore what a large portion of the public want despite your own opinions, right?
Well for every large portion of the public that want those changes there will also be a large proportion who are against.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Right, it's nice that they're going to debate about it, but as you said above, I'd prefer a referendum really.

Oh yes, well thats fair then - afterall debate is the best way to change minds, not denying people a say/ignoring as our political class do.


Well for every large portion of the public that want those changes there will also be a large proportion who are against.

Indeed, but the issues I name do have majority support at the moment - who knows though, in a debate surrounding a referendum that could change.

[Shar]

Well for every large portion of the public that want those changes there will also be a large proportion who are against.
That's true but with matters like death penalty I think that should be debated and then there should be a referendum on it. I don't think its an absolute necessity when it comes to drugs though.

[MKR&*42]

The death penalty - wouldn't just be down to a petition - the EU, the government and many other political figures would discuss this.

I personally, would hate the idea of the death penalty in the UK - they have it in America, and it doesn't work - the number of people committing crimes, simply increases every year - so the death penalty has no positive effect.

And, due to the amount of people claiming cannabis helps them with illness - I wouldn't think that making Cannabis legal, is such a bad idea. But recreational drugs - definitely not, too much damage caused.

[chantellehugs]

The only problem with the death penalty is if they convict the wrong person and they die for a crime they didn't do. It's all very well sending the wrong person to jail but you can't bring someone back to life.
If they toughened up the jails and stopped up the luxuries maybe it would be more a punishment if the convict was to spend their whole life there. Some prisoners live better lifestyles than those on the outside...

[Stephen]

not legalise all drugs

stop banning rcs (Y)

[Oleh]

I strongly agree with the cannabis part. At least it'll stop kids thinking they're the bees bloody knees for smoking it.

But the rest not so keen, but what am I , 1 In 60million people living in england and probably only a quarter care and even then a smaller number agree with me.

[Richie]

Convicted London rioters should loose all benefits.

Government website? I lol'd.


I don't care about what the british do but if they start going back into the olden days and making it an eye for an eye, what good will it do? two wrongs don't make a right. Teaching one that murder is wrong by inflicting it on them is just absurd.

As for the above poll, it's a joke. Teenagers are idiots, they smashed up those shops so they lose their benefits, they will most likely receive criminal records so won't be able to get a job. What do you think they're going to do? Starve? because that is a great way to treat a British citizen, even if they are in the wrong, people are idiots at times and they learn from their mistakes. Starving them and leaving them no other options than to beg on the streets or commit more crime is just going to cause bigger problems.

[Stephen]

kk so lets just give them our money cos we're scared they might cause even more trouble

[-:Undertaker:-]

The death penalty - wouldn't just be down to a petition - the EU, the government and many other political figures would discuss this.

I personally, would hate the idea of the death penalty in the UK - they have it in America, and it doesn't work - the number of people committing crimes, simply increases every year - so the death penalty has no positive effect.

And, due to the amount of people claiming cannabis helps them with illness - I wouldn't think that making Cannabis legal, is such a bad idea. But recreational drugs - definitely not, too much damage caused.

America doesn't really have the death penalty, only a small number of people are executed each and every year and it only remains in some states for aesthetic purposes. Besides, the real purpose of the death penalty is punishment of which deterrence is a product of.