And so we being... Let's talk about petitions

As the voting season has just ended I thought I would make a few observations about petitions, and moreover, the collectors of petition signatures.

I'm sure that we have all experienced someone soliciting us to sign the petition-de-jure, usually when you are just leaving the grocery store and your arms are filled for shopping bags, and I have struggled with how to deal with these folks.

Well, I have found a solution (for me). When I am approached I ask the individual whether they are a volunteer, or whether they are being paid to collect signatures. To me this is the essential issue.

If they are a volunteer then I will stop and talk to them, because they are approaching me as a fellow citizen. I may not agree with their position, but I will respectfully hear what they have to say, and politely debate them if it feels appropriate.

However, if the person is being paid, either via a salary, or per signature collected, then I WON'T talk to them. From my perspective they are no longer a citizen, but an employee of some larger organization, and therefore they lose the respect that I extend to them as a citizen. Even if I may agree with their position I believe that the ability to 'buy signatures' undermines our democracy.

Yes, this may seem harsh, but to me is very clear.