This maybe a little bit cynical for me (although maybe not for the rest of you)
The creation of the ePetition system by the government has been seen by some as a shot in the foot, however, could they have actually made a really smart move by devaluing the petition.
Pre-ePetition days meant a time consuming task of collecting the signatories personally, collating them and then delivering them by hand to No. 10.
Now, all that needs to be done is a completion of a simple web form and viola, the petition can be signed and sent without any need for you to intervene.
Sounds great, but as the system catches on the valid, worthwhile petitions will get swamped with the sheer number or rubbish petitions that people are likely to produce and email round to their contacts.
Given enough time people start ignoring the ePetitions as a waste of time, much like all those other chain emails that keep doing the rounds.
Eventually the Government is left with a stack of ePetitions that no-one really cares if they respond to or not and no-one can be bothered organising a physical petition any more as ePetitions are "the way forward"
