In response to Tim Hortons claims that they collected over 40,000 signatures on a petition ‘opposing drive-thru bans’ Warren wrote:
“When the city proposed a 'no smoking' ban to apply to restaurants and bars, there was another great outpouring of condemnation, but of course, only from diehard smokers, so what else could be expected when Tim Hortons asks its staunchest allies -- Timmy addicts, to sign petitions to support it?”
I think Warren’s right.
People who are addicted to the convenience of say, a 2 - 3 minute wait for a large double double vs the huge, unmanageable effort of brewing their own cup in 3 - 4 minutes at a fraction of the cost will sign just about anything related to their cuppa java - after they take the time to go online.
I know - it begs the question:
“How could 40,000 people find the extra 2 - 3 minutes in their busy day to sign an online petition?”
But, come on. Let’s not put more miles on this issue.
Click here for a more relevant and closely related issue.
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3 comments:
Anybody who circulates a petition is going to circulate it among people likely to sign it. That's how they work, after all, many like-minded people speaking with one voice. Petitions are only one vehicle (no pun intended) for that sort of thing. They're not quite as visually impressive as 100,000 people marching on Washington (or Ottawa for those of you north of the border) but they're a lot easier to execute -- especially on short notice.
So it's kind of a given that the 40,000 signatories would be taken from among the Tim Horton's faithful.
Don't misunderstand, I'm not advocating their position (I didn't sign the petition -- we don't have Timmy's down here). But in the interest of objectivity, even-handedness, whatever it's worth pointing out that wherever the signers came from, there were still 40,000 of them.
But the flaw inherent in petitions is that they offer no context for that number. We only hear one side of the conversation. It's not a representative sample, because this isn't a study. It's a lobby. And unfortunately for those opposed, nobody has yet circulated the petition asking for their views.
Which needs to happen before any kind of decision is taken, because no politician or government official (which is just a politician with a day job) is going to ignore the voice of 40,000 potential votes.
History has proven over and over that the ones who prevail aren't always the majority, but they are always the loudest.
What is with you and making your own coffee? I don't have too, I don't want too, and I wont.
re anonymous' comment;
once oil hits $200 - $300 per barrel my jibes will be unnecessary. many people will 'suddenly' rediscover the time to make coffee, skip the drive-thru, carpool with a buddy or two, save commuting costs and lower carbon emissions.
however, many readers will know I almost live at a local coffee shop and realize my jibes aren't aimed at those that walk to a local hangout, especially with a travel mug.
see earlier posts for more context;
e.g.,
http://itstrikesmefunny.blogspot.com/2008/06/free-press-article-helps-clarify-drive.html
http://itstrikesmefunny.blogspot.com/2008/06/we-can-do-this-age-of-austerity-and.html
http://itstrikesmefunny.blogspot.com/2008/06/tim-hortons-research-about-drive-thrus.html
lots more available in archives. fire away.
GAH
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