Net Petitions And Referenda?

Tom West asks: "In Canada, the leading opposition party, the Canadian Alliance has proposed that the government be legally obligated to hold a referendum on any issue that has a petition with at least 3% of the electorate signing. In response, 'This Hour has 22 Minutes', a political comedy show, has started a net petition demanding a referendum to have Parliament force Stockwell Day, leader of the Canadian Alliance, to change his name to 'Doris'. The petition started on Monday and has proceeded mostly on word of mouth (until today, when it hit just about every major newspaper (like this one from Globe and Mail). As of today, over 500,000 people have signed, closing quickly on double the number of people required. Humourous indeed, but what does this mean for the possibility of future petitions?"

"If gaining names and addresses of people to support any proposition, ludicrous or not, is this easy, does this mean an end for using petitions to force referenda, as is common in many states?

While absurd referenda are unlikely to pass, what happens when they get put on the ballot? Incendiary issues, normally silent because their few supporters are too scattered to get heard, can suddenly see their issues gain widespread attention. Regardless of the impossibility of passing, a lot of damage to the community could be occur."

Comments

Just show them that you are serious...

[human bean]

I think we can probably work things out here. All you have to do is make sure that the petition or initiative sponsor thinks that this is a good idea. Consider:

Pass a law that says that no matter where you get the names, there must be a formal presentation to the government. At this formal presentation, any citizen may challenge to keep the petition from the voters. This challenge may be overidden by the originator, if they can convince the government they are serious. Proof of serious intent is by cutting off and laying down one minor body part, say, a finger.

1. It proves that you are serious.
2. Your ability to sponsor petitions is self-limiting.

Not exactly the most delicate of methods, but should ideally suit folks in a country where the favored write-in name for an entire province was "Bob".