U.S. Death Star
Petition a Foretaste of 'Spamocracy' (News, Switzerland)
"These petitions serve as an example of what might flourish in a purely online democracy. While the opportunity to address legitimate political interests in a more cost-effective manner would of course be fantastic, the risk of 'Death Star' initiatives would become a regular nuisance. ... Online
democracy has
the same disadvantages as spam emails. Those who don't have to pay don't
hesitate to make others pay. One might argue that democracy shouldn't cost
anything. That's right. But inviting people to submit personally indulgent nonsense is not democracy."
Yes, it's official: The United States will not be building a
Death Star in the style of the planet-crushing ball from Star Wars. This, despite the more than 34,000 signatures on a "We
The People" petition platform submitted to the White House.
The request to start construction on a "DS-1 Orbital
Battle Station" by 2016 was posted last November 14 by a certain "John
D." of Longmont, Colorado. The request for the Death Star was based on the
creation of jobs in construction, engineering and space exploration, as well as
strengthening national defense.
As the U.S. government is obliged to offer its opinion whenever
25,000 signatures are submitted within a 30 day period (this has in meantime
been raised to 100,000), it
responded negatively in a statement on January 11.
The
reasons were as conclusive as they were witty: "The construction of
the Death Star has been estimated to cost more than $850,000,000,000,000,000.
We're working hard to reduce the deficit, not expand it; The Administration
does not support blowing up planets; Why would we spend countless taxpayer
dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a
one-man starship?"
Although the entire issue is rather amusing, the platform, launched
September 24, 2011, which allows U.S. citizens to petition the government, has
had still other amusing, although somewhat less funny requests. One was that the
U.S. states should not only have "state birds," "state flowers,"
and "state dinosaurs," but also a "state pokémon." This
petition to give cartoon characters an official status is just as absurd as the
one calling for a TV show starring Vice President Joe Biden.
Less funny are the numerous petitions in which enraged
citizens appeal for the secession of their states from the United States,
although the state itself has never really considered such a thing, and the federal
government would be unable to realize this request even if it were to
theoretically consider it.
Not only do these petitions - as opposed to those of sincere
concern - make their way into the press, they also waste time and resources that
could be put to more sensible use. And these "petition trolls" show
that too much direct involvement can easily get out of hand.
"We The People" serves as an example of what might
flourish in a purely online democracy. While the opportunity to address
legitimate political interests in a more cost-effective manner would of course
be fantastic, the risk of "Death Star" initiatives would become a
regular nuisance. ChristophBlocheras president? Army uniforms made of
domestic hemp? Highways with 140 mph zones? Extra-wide SUV
parking spots in front of kindergartens? Raising the retirement age to 75? Or
rather, lowering it to 50? BeniTurnheer as king of Switzerland? Reconnect the Valtellina to
Switzerland?
Of course, most proposals would be eliminated early on
because of constitutional contradictions, but efforts spent on filtering and the discussion surrounding them could seriously clog parliaments
and courts.
Online democracy - which is part of the "We The People"
trial in the U.S. - has the same disadvantages as spam emails. Those who don't
have to pay don't hesitate to make others pay. One might argue that democracy
shouldn't cost anything. That's right. But inviting people to submit personally indulgent nonsense is not democracy. Moreover, people in the past have had to
pay for democracy - some with their lives.
It is inevitable that with the changes in communication we
are currently experiencing there will also be changes in democracy. But the danger
of a "spamocracy" must be prevented, particularly
in a country like Switzerland, which has direct democracy - although yes,
visually and as an attractive holiday destination, a Death Star would have some
appeal.
