by keith jones of taxpaying pensioner with neither political nor religious affiliationThe information contained in these books, which is invariably based on their activities while public employees, was gained while they were being paid by the taxpayer for their services. It is only right, therefore that any profits arising out of books written containing that information should be passed to the public purse. It is their information, it does NOT belong to the individual ex-employee.
So does that mean if I write a book about what it’s like working in a call centre I’d have to give a portion of my money to Virgin Media? That’s a bit shit, Keith.
by Suzanne ThorpeThe ban imposed on the feeding of pigeons in Trafalger Square and in other areas and cities of the U.K. is inhumane and also infringes the human rights of those who believe birds have a right to life and not slow starvation, and as such all bans should be lifted.
Pigeons aren’t stupid. Well, not that stupid. They don’t exist on a purely “stuff thrown at them by tourists” diet.
by DANIEL DOYLE (rejected)Increasing globalisation and greater computer usage has brought about a problem that is becoming increasingly prevalent. Historically in the UK we have always used the following date structure DD/MM/YYYY but across Europe and North America it is more common to put the month first and I have even seen instances where the year is the put first. When we were an insular society this was never a problem as Johnny Foreigner could never organise anything but now with global communications, often confusion arises when the day is 12 or less. I therefore propose that a mandate is set to change our system to reflect how the majority of the rest of the world operate and we adopt MM/DD/YYYY as the norm for our date structure.
Confusing: writing dates differently than the French.
Not confusing: writing dates differently than last week.
by Yvonne ReevesIf the Government get rid of these Flats it will hopefully get rid of the Getto’s and People will Respect where they Live and their Children will grow up as Good Citizens and Parents.
The people who lived in the tower blocks will simply cease to be, and the Happiness Fairy will sprinkle her fairydust on the building site and wonderful houses with beautiful back gardens will sprout out of the ground! The people in the neighbourhoods will suddenly become kind, wonderful, generous people who’ll put away their hoodies, pull out their acoustic guitars, and sing songs of joy and rapture until the sun goes down.
Then they’ll mug everyone.
by Matt Withers (rejected)We the undersigned call upon the Prime Minister to use his considerable influence to lobby the BBC to replace the departing presenter Jonathan Ross with his elder brother Paul.
An experienced television and radio presenter, journalist and media personality, Paul has the warmth, grace and gravitas to host Friday Night, Flim 2010 and the Radio 2 programme, as shown by his successful stint on The Paul Ross Show (ITV, 1997-98), as well as in his current position on BBC Sussex and BBC Surrey.
In addition, Paul has largely avoided the controversy which has dogged his younger brother Jonathan (except for an incident in November 2006 when he announced the Eastenders Christmas storyline on-air). Paul could restore some much-needed dignity to the BBC.
Paul Ross has the warmth, grace and gravitas of Ben Shephard with a hangover. There is a shining good reason he isn’t on television much.
I asked my brother Paul to mock this for me but he said no.
by Joanna LancasterThe town of Todmorden, Yorkshire has successfully in recent years started planting fruit and vegetable plants that can be planted and harvested by anyone in the area. This makes good food accessable and affordable to all.
With the council’s full backing, residents can plant crops anywhere, from parks, to cemeteries, and outside the local fire station. This idea is so simple and has so many advantages from education and cheaper food, to improving mood and health, it seems only logical that this should be implemented in as many local council areas as possible, with the aim of making it a nationwide scheme.
“Unused green areas such as in car parks”? Ah yes, just what we need – fruits and vegetables infused with the fresh-tasting aroma of car exhaust.
Hey guys! Guys! Look who it is!
by Bruce WallaceNeutral countries have little need for a swollen defense budgets because their non-aggresion policies result in few enemies. All current security threats to this country are as a direct result of our aggressive foreign policies, or those of countries that we are allied to. By adopting a stance of neutrality we would greatly reduce the necessity for such a large defense budget.
Oh wait, no. Sorry. My mistake. It’s just some shithead with a poorly thought-out idea.
by Mr David J Berry of denseSchools should accommodate pupils who need to sleep in school. Schools are places of refuge and repose for many children – sometimes they are the only places out of harms way of troubled family life. Children should be fed, watered and taken care of in the school environment and that includes allowing for a provision of sleep if necessary. Learning will come by way of their nutrition in the basics. A child who has not slept prior to attending school is not likely to participate or engage effectively within the classroom environment. If a child falls asleep within a classroom the teacher should continue as normal, not drawing attention to the fact – it is plain that the child needs sleep rather than education. It is possible that at the end of the lesson the child can be given homework. What is certain is that the child will be able to learn in a better frame of mind having had some sleep.
A great idea that will prepare children for the real world by teaching them it’s okay to go to sleep whenever.
by ian yeatmani feel that comparison websites are harming insurance industry as businesses are closing down because people going to a website where its cheaper but by going to an insurance broker everything is explained to you
Yes, Mr Gordon! Save us from the 21st century!
by Zara RhodesModified people are not being protected by the law; Companies and organizations face massive implications for not hiring a person based on their age, disabilities, sex or gender, race or religion, sexual orientation or criminal past – but appearance is not once mentioned, and there is nothing to stop an employer from witholding a position based on how someone looks – the only exception being if a body modification is in contravention of health and safety laws. People with tattoos, piercings, unusual hair style and/or colour should be given the same rights as everyone else, and should be protected by the law to avoid mindless discrimination whether they are seeking employment (to include a prospective employer witholding a position) or are employed and experiencing descrimination from their employers (to include witholding promotion or experience of bullying from colleagues) based on their appearance.
Nobody chooses to be old, or disabled. Nobody has a say in what the colour of their skin is. But you chose to dye your hair green, put it into spiralled spikes, then replace the skin between your lower lip and your chin with a round piece of plastic so people can see your gums and the base of your teeth. That wasn’t nature’s call. That was a deliberate choice. You shouldn’t be surprised when you don’t get that accounting job or that gig at the cheese counter in Sainsbury’s.
by Martin OwenWhy should Parliament, both Lords and Commons, be immune from cuts? I suggest they show leadership and empathy with those whom they supposedly represent by making 10% of their positions redundant (eg reduce MPs from 659 to 600). The Boundary Commissions should be given clear and tough targets, which should be pushed through. It’s not too difficult – businesses have to make these tough choices all the time.
Yeah! Fuck the areas with appointed MPs! Let them go without! Or whatever! Oh, Mr Owen, you’re so wise.
by Duncan Bouchot-HumbertMy wife and I have both had to cancel our direct debits to charities due to being charged on the odd occasion when due to cash flow, we are unable to make the payments. By all means bounce the payment but please do not fine us as it makes our small charitable contributions unaffordable and I am sure many charities are losing contributions because of these bank charges.
If you can’t afford to give money to charity every month why the Hell are you doing so?
by Mr David Groom01.02.2010 i was stoped for buying a create of beer with out id and I have bought beer etc in tescos more the once and i done carry ID with me exspat my passport and am not willing to pay £100 or so to get me a new one
Okay, but only if you carry a card so we know you’re over 18 and therefore don’t need ID.
by Dr Kalvis M. Jansons of @KalvisJansons (rejected)Change the law to make war crimes illegal.
Okay, once you identify a crime which is currently legal.
by Margaret KingThe obvious reason for this is that single-deckers are much smaller than double-deckers and can therefore accommodate far fewer passengers. At the moment they can become intolerably crowded and this can also mean passengers further along the route being unable to get on to one bus; and therefore (obviously) having to wait for the next which may also be too full to take on any more passengers. If the Government is serious about the environment, and about reducing the carbon footprint caused by cars, it will accede to the request in this petition.
In my experience – and I recognise this is just in Luton and probably isn’t representative – the “single-decker” routes run every ten-to-fifteen minutes, and the double-decker routes are usually hourly. What you’re asking for would require that Arriva, who service Luton, either make their ten-to-fifteen minute routes run five-to-eight minutes, or cut their hourly routes to once every two hours instead.
You’ve also completely forgotten to take into consideration the bendy accordion buses. Tch.
by Mr J BradshawThere are too many crimes now which consist of murder,homicide, rapists by gangs and disturbing individuals.
Instead of sending them to prison with small sentences or life sentences I consider it would be better to see these people (from 16+) placed into army training grounds, trained and then placed on the front-line.
This might make them realise what they have done wrong and change them into something better!
Or it’ll be the British government putting weapons in the hands of convicted murderers and rapists. I can’t say I particularly approve of that.
by B.Wildmany crimes and even horrific assaults,murders or rapes are committed by younger persons under 18 , even many only 10- 15 year old , but when found guilty they ” cannot be named “. For the benefit of the population , I urge that the Law be changed to make it ” cannot be named if under the age of 12 “
How exactly is this “for the benefit of the population”?
by Mr Owen BellEvery supermarket shows price decreases and marks sale items in very large, eye-catching ways, in an effort to entice buyers into buying things they don’t need in quantities they could never use. However, if a price increases, the label does not have to indicate that it has done so. If supermarkets were forced to mark price increases at least as prominently as they mark price drops, the prominence of price drop advertisements would necessarily shrink, as there simply is not sufficient space to label everything with 3 square feet of signage.
The key problem with this idea is the presumption that supermarkets are the reason things get more expensive instead of, say, interest. People aren’t smart. They’re constantly going on about How Much Cheaper Things Were Back Then, gleefully omitting How Much less They Were Paid Back Then. That being said, I think Mr Bell’s endgame here is to get rid of signs in supermarkets. Which… annoying him… for some reason?
by Mik BoonWe need national service in this country but cant send unwilling youths to war. I believe a force of trained and disciplined rescue and relief workers could be used to help in natural disasters both home and abroad. These people would be trained in a military style except for the weapons training. Instead being used as a force for good without taking the military away from its primary duties. In conjunction with the military the personnel and equipment would be available at a moments notice to be deployed where needed. These conscripts will develop a sense of discipline and worth sadly lacking in todays society, and also develop citizenship skills and skills for life and work in general. There would also be no youth unemployment and youth crime would also fall. Training could be done by ex service personnel and run along the lines of previous generations national service.
If we can’t send unwilling people to kill other people, what on Glod’s green earth makes you think we can send unwilling people to help other people?
by Rebecca StephenWe believe animal testing should be banned as animals are comletely different from humans therefore making it pointless to test on animals if they have different reactions.
Yeah! I mean, it’s not like animal testing has ever resulted in serious medical breakthroughs or advancement in medical technologies! People aren’t rats. People are people. Duh.
Blimey, it’s cold! How cold is it? It’s so cold my family has been gathering around the freezer for warmth? Ba-dum-bum! I got a million of ‘em! Y’know what else I’ve got a million of? Petitions relating to the cold weather in some capacity. Won’t you read them with me? Because I’ll be damned if I’m going to read them on my own!
by Mr Michael RootsWe, the undersigned, wish the Government to implement as policy for teachers to report to their nearest school when the weather is snowy if they are unable to reach their usual place of work. Thus enabling more schools to remain open and consequently having less detrimental effect on the education of children by having fewer school closures
Ever stop to think that maybe the reason the schools are closed is not because the teachers can’t get to work, but because it’d be unsafe for the pupils to venture out into the weather to get there? No? Thought not.
by miss kelly johnsona lot of people are being penolised this winter for coming under weather stations that have not had a trigger of cold weather when in fact people that live miles away and come under it have seen temperatures fall below freezing surely this needs to be looked after or even give us all another one off payment like last jan to ensure we can put our heating on its not just elderley that suffer in winter it is sick and young children too and they dont recieve any extra winter fuel payments
And what exactly constitutes as “actual city temperatures”? Because I don’t think “my Nan’s thermometer says it’s below freezing” really counts.
by Malcolm SaggersDue to the lack of salt stocks in most areas central government seems to feel that they should now dictate who gets further stocks and has asked local councils to start rationing to maintain their stocks, do you think it right that central government should be telling local councils how to deal with icy roads/pavements in their local area? Surely central governments job is to ensure all local councils have what they need to deal with the current conditions without jumping in to ration salt stocks to areas who are obviously in need of essential gritting materials and equipment. Rationing does not solve the problems most councils are experiencing but could make it worse.
It sounds like you’re instead in favour of the Government keeping the supplies, and then when the cold weather snaps into place they simply transport the salt stocks to… uh… oh, I’ve spotted a potential hole in your plan.
by William CarverBritain is seizing up with the cold and many pavements and roads are iced up. We cannot expect local authorities to clear all this for us especially when grit is short. On the continent of Europe citizens clear pavements and roads of snow outside their houses and this makes walking and driving safer. It also prevents snow and ice build-up. We need reminding of this responsibility by government so we can get the country moving again and make it safer for pedestrians and road users.
“Hi, British public! It’s me! Gordon! I’ve got an idea for you all – why don’t you stand out in the middle of the road shoveling snow? Yes, I said the middle of the road. No, I don’t see any… oh, right. Yeah. Spotted it now. Thanks.”
by Councillor Richard DoddIn view of the recent adverse weather affecting the whole of the United Kingdom, permanent 4 wheel drive vehicles, such as Land Rovers, have proved invaluable to the community, in getting the elderly to hospital, taking rubbish collections to local refuse sites, rescuing ambulances on emergency calls and other motorists who have become stranded. It seems very unfair that these vehicles pay the highest in road fund licence when they are used to such a beneficial effect for the whole country. They have saved lives. In view of this, rather than being penalised, the owners of these vehicles should be rewarded for keeping the country going rather than being castigated as ‘Chelsea Tractors’, which vehicles such as Land Rovers are not, but essential tools, especially if you reside in rural areas.
This is, of course, ignoring the fact that the sort of tyres you need to be able to properly use a 4×4 in the UK are… banned from sale in the UK! So maybe you should write a petition about that first.
by eva kanarisBand planes, cars and anything which is causes global warming. Auto mobiles should only be used for Emergency services only. This would stop pollution, and stop fatel car and plane accidents. Why dont we face up to it, that as a modern race we will not do anything to prevent global warming unless it is against the law. Prime minister’s of the world should take charge, and stop relying on the hope that we will take Tv documentary’s seriously unless we are faced with real forceful dramatic action. A tough challenge for us to except and adapt to, either way this is the only positive solution which would do us no harm.
Yes, it’d do us no harm. Well, besides totally screwing up our economy, of course, because we wouldn’t be able to get the few goods we do manufacture to their destinations, nor would we be able to transport the goods we import.
Also, everything else that’s wrong with your idea.
by Mr S MillerI am disabled, get £90 per week in benefits, yet because I do not get income support, I have to pay for prescriptions, at £7.20 per go. If I get 2 in a week, that is nearly 1/3 of my total money per week. Some, not all retired have savings in excess of 100s of thousands of pounds, and ex beatles and Rolling Stones members are entitled to free prescriptions purely because they are over 65, yet are very wealthy, some reputed in excess of 100s of millions. So I plead to decency to make ALL benefits means tested, its illogical and unfair for people with millions to claim free charges, whilst some with little have to pay. For a fairer society this MUST happen
I love the assumption that because the surviving members of the Beatles and the Stones are old enough to get free prescriptions then logically they must be doing so.
by Peter BoocockThe current system for insurance for younger drivers makes the sensible young drivers suffer for the show off young drivers by charging every driver who is under 25 years of age, a very high premium for there insurance.
The system needs to be changed so that good, responsible drivers should be charged less for insurance than bad, irresponsible drivers
One way in which this could be done for young drivers to be offered background checks to help prove that they are responsible. These checks could include school/colleague behavior records, if the driver has a criminal record and if the driver has ever had (or still has) an asbo ect…
If these checks are passed, a discount should be offered to the driver.
Not only will all this stop young drivers being ripped off but it will also make young people think twice about committing anti-social small crimes, showing off in their cars and reducing the amount of uninsured drivers on the roads.
It’s got very little to do with irresponsibility – it’s more to do with the fact that younger drivers are generally inexperienced at driving and so are more likely to get into an accident. Background checks wouldn’t stop this kind of thing from happening.
Oh dear, we have another “scrap the TV license” moron in our midsts. And this one is armed with misinformation! Let’s get this over with…
by Mr Richard MooreWhy should the BBC be given free money, whilst other TV channels gain no funding from the BBC TV License?
Why also is it satisfactory for the BBC to outsourse it’s published programs to e.g. BBC Americas for viewing abroad.
Why also is it satisfactory for the BBC to use UK License holders money to spurn products for their own profit from the UK public, i.e. childrens toy product etc…?
With the current economic state the country has been placed into, would it not enable families with a lower income to utilise the monies used for a TV License on more benificial items, i.e. feeding their family?
Is it not fair to the other broadcast network’s such as ITV, Channel 4 etc… to not recieve monies from the TV License.
Support the scrappage of the BBC TV License, sign the petition!
Okay, let’s dissect this one, shall we?
Why should the BBC be given free money, whilst other TV channels gain no funding from the BBC TV License?
Because the BBC is a public broadcasting service, and ITV, Channel 4, Channel Five, Sky etc. are businesses supported by advertising.
Why also is it satisfactory for the BBC to outsourse it’s published programs to e.g. BBC Americas for viewing abroad.
Actually, haha, they don’t. What happens is this: BBC Worldwide, the business arm of the BBC, is given the rights to distribute the shows to other territories. What happens then is that BBC America has to bid for those rights, and if they succeed then they get the show. You probably don’t know this but until recently BBC America didn’t have the first-to-air rights to Doctor Who – the American SciFi Channel (now called SyFy) outbid them for the rights to series one through four, and they let those rights lapse this year for the one-off specials.
Additionally, BBC America (which, I need to reiterate, is a business much like ITV and British Sky Broadcasting) actually co-funds some BBC productions such as Robin Hood.
So, y’know. Research.
Why also is it satisfactory for the BBC to use UK License holders money to spurn products for their own profit from the UK public, i.e. childrens toy product etc…?
Again, this is stuff that is all handled by the BBC’s business arms and is not funded by the money they get from the TV license, you frog’s gusset.
With the current economic state the country has been placed into, would it not enable families with a lower income to utilise the monies used for a TV License on more benificial items, i.e. feeding their family?
Considering that television is a luxury item and not a utility, they could always put the TV in the loft if they can’t afford their license.
Is it not fair to the other broadcast network’s such as ITV, Channel 4 etc… to not recieve monies from the TV License.
There is some debate about this, but once again it’s worth noting that ITV, Channel 4 etc. are supported by advertising. The BBC is not.
Thanks for playing.
Sometimes it’s entirely possible to see the point that ePetitioners are trying to make, but they make things so much worse for themselves by trying to rationalise things. I’m sure it’s all perfectly logical to them, but it just ends up making them look silly.
Case in point:
by Mr Aaron AspharThey say shoplifting is a crime; yet Asda alone send over 75,000 tonnes of food a year to landfile, because it is more profitable to over-order and dump the surpless then to run out of stock when sales exceed expectations. This is a crime on an industrial scale. Supermarkets should be made to offer their food to charities and customers for free 6 hours before the sell by date. They should also pay a substantial levy by the tonne for landfil. The environmental and social benefits would be vast.
Y’know, you’re right – shoplifting and disposing of out-of-date, surplus stock are comparable crimes.