38 Degrees
So despite the fact I try not to get involved with politics on the blog, mostly owing to my personal antipathy towards so much of it, I do think this is both interesting and potentially important…
It’s interesting because it has taken the art of submitting internet petitions (which are now recognised by the government as reasonably valid forms of political protest) to new heights. It’s important because so many of the issues it campaigns on – the NHS was the one that got me engaged – are things which as decent citizens we really ought to give a damn about. Chose to sign, chose not to sign, I really do think that this may, in the long-run, prove to be a Good Thing. How many times have we listened to the news and thought ‘damn that’s so stupid, I really ought to do something about it’ only for work, time and geography to get in the way of actually putting a signature on a petition, sending a postcard, attending a rally or whatever middling liberalish expedient happens to be your kettle of fish. Rhetorical as the question is, I can only speak for myself by saying – lots. But perhaps the internet will change this? Perhaps as much as there are arguments that it trivialises information, diminishes content, perhaps the internet can actually serve another, brighter purpose, and engage more and more people with the things that matter?
Jury’s out, folks…
