Thread

1. nblgbg · 1790263499 · focus · HN ↗

   When I first registered in Texas, they told me that something didn’t match the details with Social Security and that they couldn’t process my registration. Unfortunately, they never told me exactly what didn’t match. After chasing Social Security and the county multiple times, I eventually figured out that someone had put an extra space in my middle name. The staff processing my request were very helpful, but unfortunately, they didn’t even know what exactly was not matching.

   It’s really unfortunate that you have the burden of proving that your information is correct. It took me about 6/7 weeks to complete the entire process.

   They also mail you a voter registration card (which itself isn’t useful anywhere), and if, for any reason, it doesn’t reach you, your name will be suspended from the list.

   The whole process feels like it’s designed to discourage people from voting.

   1. datsci_est_2015 · 1790264013 · focus · HN ↗

      When corporations use similar tactics we call them “dark patterns”. Unfortunately, the only weapon we the people have against these tactics is regulation. But when it’s the government doing these things… anyway. Hope the Democratic Party has learned that conservative leadership won’t evolve their platform, they’ll reject democracy.

      1. furytrader · 1790267878 · focus · HN ↗

         "The only weapon we the people have against these tactics is regulation"

         That's not true. If it's a company doing it, you have the choice to not be a customer of the company. Don't give them any of your money if you don't like how they do business.

         The same can't be said of government. If you don't give your money, in the form of taxes, you go to jail.

         1. orwin · 1790268103 · focus · HN ↗

            Clearly, Luigi found a far more effective way.

            1. krapp · 1790268582 · focus · HN ↗

               Not really.

               Luigi didn't trigger any sort of mass uprising against the elites, didn't inspire copycats or revolutionaries. No reform of insurance or pharma costs occurred, all of the problems he ostensibly opposed are still there. He just got arrested and became a meme for a while.

               1. datsci_est_2015 · 1790269026 · focus · HN ↗

                  Meh, I think a lot of my people in my cohort are a lot more sympathetic towards people who lash out violently against the Kafkaesque capitalist system that many of us are suffering under. It also engrained a cultural understanding (in my cohort) that profit-seeking is not a shield of innocence: many agree that the leadership of United was inherently evil due to their business practices.

                  So, there has been a shift in our shared reality. Maybe not as significant as something like 9/11, but maybe an order of magnitude or two below it.

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