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The White House Is Temporarily Shutting Down Its Petition Website (gizmodo.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Gizmodo: We The People, the petition section of the White House's website, is shutting down for a promised January relaunch. First launched in 2011 under then-President Obama, We The People pledged to provide a White House response to any petition which garnered 100,000 or more signatures within 30 days. The 200+ petitions that have received an official response have largely been unremarkable, leading to revelations like the White House's official beer recipe or condemnations (in word only) of groups like the Westboro Baptist Church. In short, the site has functioned as a PR tool for fostering good will -- one that the Trump administration has reportedly considered killing since April and now appears to be sluggishly getting around to putting in the ground.

"To improve this site's performance, the platform is currently down for maintenance and will return in late January," the site now reads. "All existing petitions and associated signatures have been preserved and will be available when the site is relaunched. Following the site's relaunch, petitions that have reached the required number of signatures will begin receiving responses."
Further reading: The New York Times

6 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. Re:They don't want to get tax reform petitions by rwven · · Score: 2, Informative

    Before assuming you'll be screwed over by the tax plan, I suggest using the nytimes' calculator to see what your tax changes will be. As it stands, virtually no poor or middle class citizens will see a tax increase. https://www.nytimes.com/intera... (I myself will see a few thousand dollar decrease in taxes)

    I'm sure there are some instances where a handful of people will see increased taxes, but don't believe every front page post you see on reddit. There's no incoming middle class decimation along with this bill, and waving your arms and screaming about it won't make your statement any more true.

  2. Re: They don't want to get tax reform petitions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Those tax breaks are temporary, plus adding debt drives up interest rates.

  3. Re: Barry Soetoro Never Checked It by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    At least obama acknowledged they existed. Compared to trump putting his fingers in his ears and screaming "la la la I can't hear you la la la".

    Big difference bro. Also, what does obama have to do with trump? Why are you comparing trump to obama? I thought trump was for the people and was going to be a representative of the people.

    We get it, the only way to make trump look good is to try and prop him up next to obama. Nice try tho, you elected a turd, deal with it.

  4. YOU CANNOT PETITION THE LORD WITH PRAYER by PopeRatzo · · Score: 3, Informative

    First launched in 2011 under then-President Obama,

    That's really all this is about.

    Donald Trump has to be the pettiest motherfucker on the planet.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  5. Re:They don't want to get tax reform petitions by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 4, Informative

    This sort of 'tax reform plan' has been tried before (Reagan era), and it never produces the economic growth it claims it'll produce -- and 'trickle down economics' is bullshit, the wealthy and corporations will keep their extra cash, and to hell with everyone else.

  6. Re:They don't want to get tax reform petitions by Brett+Buck · · Score: 1, Informative

    The Reagan-era tax cuts took the economy from completely moribund 'stagflation' to the greatest peacetime economic boon in history in the space of a few years.