I received an email from whitehouse.gov this morning stating that their newest initiative “We The People” has launched.
I feel that this might be a tool of value for grassroots efforts and established groups. It is worth a try. Please help spread the word about this new tool by forwarding this to anyone else who would find We the People interesting.
Below is an excerpt from the email with info & links. Bolding is mine.
We the People is a new way for Americans to create and sign petitions calling on the Obama Administration to take action on a range of important issues.
We the People is easy to use. Here's how it works:
1. Create or Sign a Petition: Anyone 13 or older can create or sign a petition on WhiteHouse.gov asking the Obama Administration to take action on a range issues.
2. Build Support and Gather Signatures for your Petition: It's up to you to build support for a petition. Use email, Facebook, Twitter and word of mouth to tell your friends, family and coworkers about the petitions you care about.
3. The White House Reviews and Responds: If a petition reaches 5,000 within 30 days, it will be reviewed by a standing group of White House officials, referred to any other relevant policymakers and an official response will be issued.
The idea of petitioning the White House or the government isn't new, but this tool is. The White House has never tried anything like this before, and as a result, we'll probably have to make some adjustments as we go. As we do, we'll keep you posted on the White House blog.
So think about an issue you care about, who you can reach out to join you, and get started:
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/...
Fri Sep 23, 2011 at 12:55 PM PT: Currently, the petitions listed on We The People range from abolishing TSA, the Patriot Act, Corporate Personhood to legalization of growing industrial hemp & the legalization, regulation & taxation of marijuana.
Many of the above have exceeded the 5000 sig baseline.
There are others, such as Reject Keystone XL Pipeline that need more sigs.
There are 2 diaries that I stumbled across on DKOS that have started petitions but have fallen off the rec list that need eyeballs & action.