inspired by that dog meat thread. in my mind, petitions don't seem to work. i like them as an idea, but when there's no compulsion for the powerful to listen, they generally don't!

but i'm probably wrong. what petitions can you think of that have worked? what's been the most significant petition victory in recent years. NOTE: anything involving a public consultation doesn't count, because if you're responding to a public consultation with a petition, there's a fair chance you've missed the point.

second question! if it turns out petitions don't work, what alternative should people pursue? given democracy doesn't hold the powerful in check, what should the Ordinary People do to do so? or should they just not and let the powerful do what they want?