17 replies to this topic

[luvsmyncis]

On the president's website, Americans are encouraged to start and sign petitions on issues most important to them. The petitions cover a wide range of topics, from gun control, to gay rights, healthcare, and including weird shit like organ harvesting and sending some fat guy back to England. Recently, there was a petition put forth for the construction of a Death Star...

"We petition the Obama Administration to:
Secure resources and funding, and begin construction of a Death Star by 2016.

Those who sign here petition the United States government to secure funding and resources, and begin construction on a Death Star by 2016.

By focusing our defense resources into a space-superiority platform and weapon system such as a Death Star, the government can spur job creation in the fields of construction, engineering, space exploration, and more, and strengthen our national defense."

This petition garnered over 34,000 signatures, so the White House was obligated to respond.
And... lol... it's a pretty good response, I think.
This Isn't the Petition Response You're Looking For

Oh well. I will always have my dreams.

[Waser Lave]

They did have a pretty good point that spending $850,000,000,000,000,000 to build something which can be destroyed by one man in a spaceship wasn't particularly frugal given the current state of the economy.

[Drakonid]

I don't think anyone has been able to build a functioning X-Wing either...

[Mishelle]

On one hand it's cool to see everyday people involving themselves in politics.

On the other hand this is just reminding me how fucking stupid everyday people are.

[kittycat]

just chasing the fantasy

[Pilot]

I like how some people are actually taking a joke petition seriously

[Frizzle]

I like how some people are actually taking a joke petition seriously

On the other hand this is just reminding me how fucking stupid everyday people are.

[candybar]

This is actually pretty hilarious... but also a waste of resources.

[Sweeney]

This is actually pretty hilarious... but also a waste of resources.

Are you kidding? This is excellent PR. The people who have to deal with these petitions were probably buzzing with glee as they watched this climb the ranks.

[redlion]

I don't think anyone has been able to build a functioning X-Wing either...

Perhaps not, but I imagine it would cost significantly less to develop than a Death Star.

Are you kidding? This is excellent PR. The people who have to deal with these petitions were probably buzzing with glee as they watched this climb the ranks.

Agreed.

This is the first I've heard of this Wethepeople website, and I'd say that deathstar petition and response has done it's job more than adequately. Now if only someone could teach congressmen to stop taking pictures of their dicks and emailing hookers from their official government email addresses.

[luvsmyncis]

Now if only someone could teach congressmen to stop taking pictures of their dicks and emailing hookers from their official government email addresses.

But that's how congress truly represents the American people.

[willy101]

best part of the response:

If you do pursue a career in a science, technology, engineering or math-related field, the Force will be with us! Remember, the Death Star's power to destroy a planet, or even a whole star system, is insignificant next to the power of the Force.

I'm glad they took the time to respond to this petition in earnest

[redlion]

I'm glad they took the time to respond to this petition in earnest

I am too.

However on more serious issues they tend to piss themselves before using a lot of words to say nothing. Take their response to legalizing marijuana where they basically brush aside the issue and quote a Barbara Walters interview. No humor, no policy, and moreover, no response!

[JillianMarie]

That was the funniest thing I've read in so long and it made me so happy.

[artificial]

Is there any sort of policy to replying to petitions? I'd like to see the Whitehouse's response to: https://petitions.wh...swartz/RQNrG1Ck

[redlion]

Is there any sort of policy to replying to petitions? I'd like to see the Whitehouse's response to: https://petitions.wh...swartz/RQNrG1Ck

There is a threshold amount of signatures it takes to get a response.

Link

AS OF JANUARY 15, 2013:

To cross the first threshold and be searchable within WhiteHouse.gov, a petition must reach 150 signatures within 30 days.

To cross the second threshold and require a response, a petition must reach 100,000 signatures within 30 days.

That doesn't make it clear when the second 30 days begins. Is it from the time you pass the first threshold, or from the time you submit the petition? Ugh. Usually governments are reliably bureaucratic enough to redundantly explain every facet of a policy. Apparently the White House missed that memo.

[ShadowLink64]

Is there any sort of policy to replying to petitions? I'd like to see the Whitehouse's response to: https://petitions.wh...swartz/RQNrG1Ck

You and me both. I don't think anything too drastic is going to happen, but they say her future political ambitions are pretty much over after this. Good riddance if you ask me. The last thing the US needs is a nutcase prosecutor bullying those who want to bring about positive change in a non-violent way.

At the time this petition was created, the threshold was 25,000 signatures, and so the White House has to respond to this one I believe.

[Dot]

Are you kidding? This is excellent PR. The people who have to deal with these petitions were probably buzzing with glee as they watched this climb the ranks.

 

This must be the coolest petition and funniest official response I ever read. I wish more of my countrymen had the sense of humor to appreciate something like it. And yes, the people who have to draft these responses must have been pretty excited to take a break from the dreary everyday stuff and dredge up Star Wars themed facts and photo's.

 

Thanks for sharing! I'll send the link to some of my friends whom I know would love this too