Growing support for Citizen's Manifesto for Election

national | politics / elections | press release Sunday May 06, 2007 09:41 by Praxis sneakygerry at yahoo dot co dot uk

Give them something to take home

There is growing support for the idea of a Citizen's Manifesto, as proposed by writer William Wall in his website (www.williamwall.eu).

There is growing support for the idea of a Citizen's Manifesto, as proposed by writer William Wall in his website (www.williamwall.eu). Here is his idea, as he explains it himself:
"I've been wondering for some time what to do when canvassers call to my door. In the past I've found myself engaged in acrimonious arguments with people against whom I bear no personal animosity, perfectly nice people who just happen to represent a party I dislike. Recently the idea came to me: Why not give THEM a leaflet explaining my point of view? As you will see, the attached Citizen's Manifesto (a PDF) expresses my own political position. I attach it merely as a sample and urge you to create your own. On the other hand, you're welcome to just print mine off and hand it out, if it suits. This PDF can also be downloaded from my website. It seems to me to be an active form of citizenship. If you like the idea, please pass it on."
The Manifesto has featured on various political blogs and has been circulated widely by email. The author is asking bloggers to post it, and activists to continue the circulation and to encourage people to either adapt it to reflect their own views or hand it out as is.
Wall says:
"Despite the folksy tone of the email, my hope is that we will circumvent the consensus and, for once, actually give them something to think about - to think that there is a real politics out there/here, and not this pathetic para-politics of competing right-wing game-players. What I'm hoping is that the manifesto will empower people to tell the parties what they really think."