Please sign my petition, "Reduce the deficit, not the middle class"

[Liberal Fiscal Hawk]

I've been circulating a petition that calls for the deficit to be reduced through ways that strengthen the middle class, rather than inflicting pain upon it. It calls for the strengthening of Social Security, reducing Defense spending to 2001 levels, imposing a tax on big corporate polluters, reducing the cost of health care while leaving Medicare benefits intact, and allowing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy to expire. It cuts the deficit by $9.1-$9.2 trillion, which is roughly 4x what the current deal does.

https://sites.google.com/site/nomorepainusa/Reducethedeficit%2Cnotthemiddleclass.pdf">Reduce the Deficit, Not the Middle Class

So far I haven't gotten as many signatures as I'd like, I'm at 163. I've been trying Facebook, reddit and digg, all with little success. Would any of you folks happen to know how one could go about getting lots of people to look at this petition? I know that there's little chance that average folks could change the minds of the folks in Washington, but I have to try.

The petition is based on data from the http://www.cepr.net/calculators/calc_deficit.html">CEPR Deficit Calculator.

I'm using signon.org, which is a new site run by moveon.org that allows you to create your own petitions. Here is a direct link to the petition at signon.org (though it doesn't look as professional as the PDF file in the first link):
http://signon.org/sign/reduce-the-deficit-not

[secondwind]

1. You are very new here..... like, uh, TODAY. I was hesitant to open your link.

Nevertheless, if you are a true progressive Dem, welcome to DU. But I am not going to open your link. Sorry. We have more than our share of trolls on this page already.

[Liberal Fiscal Hawk]

2. Maybe a signon.org link would be better?

Would you feel more at ease looking at a link to the petition at signon.org? That's a site run by moveon.org that lets you create your own petitions. Though, it doesn't look nearly as professional as the PDF.

http://signon.org/sign/reduce-the-deficit-not

[Enthusiast]

5. I signed.

That should be the Democratic Party platform. I am serious.

[Liberal Fiscal Hawk]

8. Thanks

Thank you, Enthusiast :)

[Obamanaut]

3. Does an e-petition do any good other than 'feel-good' for the author/sender?

If it is to a politician, there are no verifiable signatures, little likelihood of votes to be gained.

[Liberal Fiscal Hawk]

4. It is

It's directed towards the House of Representatives, Senate, and President.

Maybe that's the price you pay for having an internet petition, no verifiable signatures?

[Obamanaut]

10. And here again is the question -> with a Snopes link

Does an e-petition do any good other than 'feel-good' for the author/sender?

Here is the Snopes link that even mentions 'slacktivism', addressed in another post. http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/petition/internet.asp

[NightWatcher]

11. Petitions replace activism with Slacktivism...aka raging against the machine...

without ever having to leave your sofa.

Petitions do not EVER accomplish anything...aside from like you said, making authors and signers feel like they actually did something.

[Liberal Fiscal Hawk]

12. then what?

In lieu of circulating an internet petition, what do you suggest?

[NightWatcher]

15. Until people are ready to take to the streets (a la Egypt, 10% of the populous)

nothings ever going to happen to change the direction of this country.

Play Angry Birds to pass the time or put another coat of paint on the hurricane shutters, but please don't expect emails, petitions, and calls to Congress to accomplish anything. They won't, they don't, they can't.

[Enthusiast]

6. Why would a Democrat un-recommend this?

This is an excellent deal.

[iamtechus]

17. It implies that reducing the deficit will save the middle class which is false

Another Fox News true believer.

[Liberal Fiscal Hawk]

18. Huh

I don't recall ever implying that reducing the deficit would save the middle class. Strengthening Social Security and reducing the cost of health care with the public option would help the middle class, but not save them. To do that, you'd need a bunch of more socially democratic reforms, such as a policy of achieving full employment, true universal health care, universal higher education, a living wage, an increase in union membership, and so on and so forth. That's likely the subject of a totally different petition.

I've never been accused of being a Fox News true believer before. I think you're just being paranoid.

[Petrushka]

7. "Click here to download your attachment"????? Yeah, right!!!1!

:thumbsdown:

[Liberal Fiscal Hawk]

9. huh

It's a pdf file. I'm sorry if I've frightened you, I had no idea that so many people came here flaunting supposed federal budget reports which turned out to be viruses or something. Why not look at the signon.org link, at least? That's a site run by moveon.org

[Petrushka]

13. Thanks for the 2nd link. I signed the petition and posted it on my FB wall. Hope that helps a bit.

:kick:

[Liberal Fiscal Hawk]

14. Thank you :)

[Petrushka]

16. I sent that signon.org link to a few people on my e-mail list. Don't know if it'll do any good, but

:shrug: