The press corps seems impressed by the prime minister's on-line petition 
system -- see recent articles cited below.

Our view on this system is as follows:

The Downing Street e-petition scheme's novelty may soon wear off. It 
does seem to be of some use as a way to bring problems and ideas to 
public attention. On the other hand even very good and well supported 
proposals can be ignored by the government.

Can we do better democracy? We think so. If say half a million people 
sign a proposal then parliament should be obliged to debate it and 
decide for or against. If they turn it down then the proposal should be 
put to the whole electorate in referendum (plebiscite). Local issues may 
be treated in the same way via the council.

Compare the petition at
http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/i-and-r.gb

For more information about citizens' law proposal (initiative) and 
referendum see http://www.iniref.org

Regards
Wallace-Macpherson

Background:
The Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/libby_purves/article1336496.ece 


Guardian
Don't ignore a million angry voices, Mr Blair
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2010571,00.html