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I’ll do it, but only if you’ll help

Pledge “cheapdemocracy”

"I will give £36 to a fund to hire the services of an ex-cabinet minister but only if 1,000 other concerned citizens will do the same."

— Justin McKeating, Purchaser of democracy (contact)

Deadline to sign up by: la 14-a de Aŭgusto 2009
40 people signed up, 960 more were needed

Country: United Kingdom

More details
Ex-cabinet minister Jack Cunningham is paid £36,000 by the City of London Corporation to give 'political advice'.

This services also means that 'from time to time, corporation officials tell him that they having "a bit of a problem" getting a meeting with a particular minister and he agrees to make a call to that minister's office'.

More details here: http://tinyurl.com/3ycfcg.

This means that, for the first time, the democratic process is easily affordable to the man in the street.

With that in mind, this pledge is asking 1,000 concerned citizens to pledge to contribute £36 to a central fund.

This fund will then be used to purchase the services of an ex-cabinet minister who will then address our concerns to government representatives and secure meetings with them if and when necessary.

Please sign up: our democracy has never been cheaper.

Thanks!

Justin
http://www.chickyog.net

Comments on this pledge

• Sounds good, but would it work in practice?
  
  A thousand people would have very different wants. For example, one person might want the ex-Minister to help out with their anti-war interests, while someone else in the group might want them to use their contacts to help with pro-Trident activities.
  T Young, 2 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
• These are politicians we are talking about. It doesn't matter if we ask them to help on contradictory subjects, so long as there is something in it for them...
  Ian, 2 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
• Can we add a penny or two more to pay for a golden trough as well?
  Owen Beith, 14 months ago. Abusive? Report it!
• I agree with T Young - it's not the services of an ex-cabinet minister in general that I'd want, and I'd definitely want to know what aims all other signatories had before signing up.
  
  What I'd want is the ability to press ex-cabinet ministers, amongst others, in order to intensify action on climate change [given the evidence, for instance, that carbon sinks such as oceans and forstest are increasingly losing their capacity to absorb CO2, the increasing rate of Artic ice melt and thus fast approaching albedo flip, the evidence of Antartic ice melt etc. See
  http://climatesafety.org/].
  
  Such action would require investment to decarbonise our economy - and provide a great many jobs in the process.
  
  Is this what Justin Keating or any of the other signatories have in mind?
  
  I'd be very happy to make a pledge for this purpose...
  Anna, 14 months ago. Abusive? Report it!
• Will this ex-Cabinet minister be any good with a paintbrush? After he's made his calls for us, I have some woodwork in the bedroom that needs a new coat of gloss.
  Donald Strachan, 12 months ago. Abusive? Report it!
• I make trust for poor people in sikh community. if any people help anther people so contact me.
  My trust name is Sh.H.B.S.Kohli Memorial Trust My Mobile No. 9828539596. Our trust email address is kohlitrust@yahoo.com
  Ajit Pal Singh, 11 months ago. Abusive? Report it!
• £36k for political advice? He must be having a laugh. That's even more scandalous than the current MPs' expenses row!
  Wholesale Clothing, 8 months ago. Abusive? Report it!
• It's a disgrace what these ex politicians get up to. I think this is a great pledge, and hope you reach your target!
  Wordpress Themes, 8 months ago. Abusive? Report it!
• £36k?? What an absolute bargain - a lot of duck ponds to be had for that!
  Forex VPS, 8 months ago. Abusive? Report it!
• Money is essentially agreement. Today, we are one day before the final deadline for this pledge and I am number 43.
  Money can be used for good things when it goes from one to many: example:
  Pericles made a strong democracy in Athens because the citizens attending the Agora to vote, were PAID a day's wage to drop their work, attend all day, listen, think and vote.
  But a thousand people giving 36 each to one guy doesn't look promising for democracy, that's why there is 957 missing to be done.
  Joanna Iatridou, 6 months ago. Abusive? Report it!