Given the amount of people who use this site.?

Question

Could it be used to sway government decisions, or policiy even.

On reading the answers, I dont believe anyone has read my question properly, so I will just put it to the vote

Answer 1

Yes. I know I have done my part - I've written our senators, president, governor, etc. The thing is, most people aren't taken seriously unless they can speak civilly without dropping the f-bomb or trash talking our officials.

Answer 2

No - not in the UK.

The government of the day has, historically, a very poor record of responding to popular will - sometimes for better or worse, as it staves of populist and badly-thought out legislating, sometimes for worse, as it shows the less attractive side of representative democracy.

In recent times, the only two key instances of popular pressure defeating government policy were Thatcher's u-turn on university tuition fees in the 1980s and the later reneging of the Community Charge (Poll Tax). The former was because it was extremely likely to erode her support among the Conservative's core support base, the latter because it was widely flouted, becoming unenforceable and resulting in major public disorder.

Re: issues on criminal justice, national security and financial laws, populism is extremely unlikely to have an effect on government policy - consider the Countryside Alliance and Stop the War marches in 2003, as well as the petition against pay-as-you-go road charges.

In this country, you vote a party in to government, which then - it is claimed - acts in your interests. Many may beg to differ, however.

Answer 3

Not really, most Politicians answer a question with a question.
To suggest they would draw inspiration from a site like Q&A
would really go against everything they believe in, Good Grief a Politician giving an answer!?!? It would be the end of civilised Political Debate! Responsibility is a Dirty Word!!!

Answer 4

Well, potentially. But realistically? All would have to be adults (many are not); and US citizens (if we are talking about US policies and many on here are not); and regulations (if we are discussing voting, say... dispensing with the anonymity aspect of this forum or at least increasing some level of accountability); and then there would be the varying opinions of the questioners and answerers to deal with, too. Sounds a lot like the real world and a lot less fun, IMHO.

Answer 5

It is possible. Based on what is going on in the Senate with the immigration bill, I suspect that politician will always listen to the people with money and who donate to the politicians' causes. I think the overwhelming majority of people in the US are against what the Senate is doing, but the old boy seem to be marching to a different tune. Someone has to be selling them. They cannot make up such screwed up legislation on their own.

Answer 6

The Government gives a **** less about what we think, I assure you. Its a sorry fact, but the "old" America is long gone. Once more, as with many nations, an aristocracy of old guys runs the show, and we, the plebs, are left to wallow in what they give us.

Answer 7

You are joking, Its all a bit of a laugh on here, no more, if you take it more seriously than that then you are being rather naive..This Government doesn't take notice of anyone until of course election time.

Answer 8

that would be great if it worked, but i don't think so, government need more of a push than his, all the best

Answer 9

Dont be daft mate , the government aren't that mental !!

Answer 10

Not a chance.