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Every now and again, I sign a change.org petition when I’m presented with (usually) some unfathomable piece of bureaucratic or political bastardry that’s either wrecked or threatening to wreck the lives of a person or a group of people doing it tough.
So, whereas I might not have signed a petition from Twiggy Forest and Gina Rhinestone complaining about the 2% deficit tax for people earning over $180k a year, I did sign a petition from a fireman with years of service and properly-diagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder being denied his rights by a crappy insurance company that bleeds NSW taxpayers dry in premiums for firies, cops and ambos – but rarely if ever pays up when they need it and deserve it.
In my view, mass organisation against bureaucratic, commercial and political twats is a really good thing – more effective than litigation and a lost faster at resolving fundamental inequities. I give them my support when it’s appropriate to do so – and like maybe 2 million other change.org participants, you might like to consider helping out too.
More satisfying than and far more effective than ringing up some minion at your local MP, and not a big time waster like trumped up commercial shock jocks who dance for whomever is paying the piper.
sandshoe said:
When I’ve had time, I’ve watched out for what the ‘young’ people on my Facebook page are signing and follow through to see what their issue is, why they are bringing it to my attention. That way I have felt marginally happier that I was contributing where the crowd are also contributing. The Barrier Reef and various petitions, the cassowary sanctuary in the north, I helped win the Wenham River fracas over mining the sands in the National Park but that was by writing letters to the newspapers in the north as well. Now I am winning this home spun drama. I will in future be spending more time on immediate local issues I be thinking.
Things are getting better here regards the house and my hand is looking better but I will follow up on that, no fret speaking of issues as we were. It is surprisingly red still in a distinctive pattern but I can now leave the house without potentially trailing fleas with me which is socially more comfortable.
Funny that. Looking at a second hand (very good quality) vinyl sofa to perhaps buy it the other day the sales person told me when I hesitated about not knowing its history she could assure me the people who owned it are lovely people and they are very, very clean, nothing like…that (waved a dismissive hand).
Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Excuse me while I double over laughing again, as I inwardly did, seeing the slightly confused expression on her face to my absolutely straight faced, “I’m very lovely and I’m clean, but I’ve got fleas”. Honestly I say, ‘Shoe, can’t you do your deceased parents proud better than this!?
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Big M said:
I agree, Emmjay. Whilst I’m quite cynical about the fact that getting a million ‘likes’ on Facebook probably won’t end cancer, most of these change.org actually do address the petition to the appropriate authorities and have changed the outcome.
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algernon1 said:
I sign those I feel strongly about and agree with.
Talking to the local members worker tends to get nowhere. I know of cases where they even write on their behalf then sign as though the member has written and read it.
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Therese Trouserzoff said:
Worked once for me, Algy. Sorted out my late Nan’s war widows’ pension when Pop died.
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vivienne29 said:
I signed the fireman one too. Don’t sign everyone I get just the ones with which I totally agree and think something might come of it. They emailed me today telling me I am one of their frequent signers and a link to smh article on change.org stuff.
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Therese Trouserzoff said:
I suspect that they might have told everyone that, Viv 🙂
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lindyp said:
Totally agree Emmjay -have already signed that one too-
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