Actually, ONLINE petitions can be quite useful

Actually, you  are incorrect.  While email petitions that merely add your name and circulate about are indeed invalid, many reputable organizations collect the name, address, phone number, email addresses of people who have volunteered that information for an on-line petition.  This verifiable information can be considered as a valid signature.

The trick is to know the organization asking for such information - and to know their privacy policies for the use of your information.

From a politician's point of view, someone who took the time to register that information on an on-line petition would equate to a person willing to put that same information on a paper listing - both are equally valid and indicative of support for/against the issue.

So, if a reputable organization you find trustworthy has a online petition site you can sign it an know that it could have an impact.  If it is something circulated via email that does not point to an online site, send it to the trash can.

And beware of online sites too - many are just list gathering operations and some are much worse, such as the Rima Laibow/General Stubblebine fifth column effort that seeks to get you to turn over you private information to a fifth column operation that is working against health freedom.

DQ