Thread

1. rglover · 1790631242 · focus · HN ↗

   IMO, when they have to hide, that's the beginning of the end. Too many people are aware of the what/why now. And above all else, once the tables turn on elected officials and they realize they're under the same surveillance, I bet their tune will change (likely due to a public egg-on-face moment involving illegal or suspicious activity). If people keep the pressure on, this will be a "remember when" rather quickly.

   1. Cider9986 · 1790633427 · focus · HN ↗

      Government officials should be highly transparent. Privacy for the people, transparency for the government.

      1. awesome_dude · 1790634013 · focus · HN ↗

         There's a balance that needs to be struck, politicians are humans too

         1. atmavatar · 1790634638 · focus · HN ↗

            Politicians are humans who knowingly choose to enter public office for the sake of exercising power, whether for altruistic or nefarious reasons (or some combination thereof).

            The power is why politicians deserve greater scrutiny than the average person, and anyone who wants to keep their privacy intact can choose not to run for office. The loss of privacy (usually at the hands of the press) is already an implied cost of running for and holding office.

            1. analog31 · 1790634945 · focus · HN ↗

               I think there's a balance that needs to be struck, in proportion to actual power. A senator or cabinet member deserves more scrutiny than a small town city clerk. Also, there are private individuals who knowingly exercise more power than that clerk.

               1. everforward · 1790635992 · focus · HN ↗

                  I think you misunderstand the balance of power. If you're talking about power over you specifically, your local clerk almost certainly has more than your senator. If they both want to make your life suck, the clerk is the one with the relationship to the local PD, the ability to make your filings get lost in a pile for a couple days so they were technically filed late, etc. Your senator or representative is likely in 0 of the processes you are likely to engage in unless you're notable enough that you specifically get targeted by the state legislature.

                  > Also, there are private individuals who knowingly exercise more power than that clerk.

                  This is partially a pet peeve of mine, but again, almost certainly not. I struggle to think of someone with more ability to kill a project than a clerk that refuses to do their job.

                  Kim Davis was a clerk that refused a literal Supreme Court order. As best I can tell, she did 5 days in jail and launched a million dollar speaking career out of it. Bezos or Musk can be absolutely sidelined by a clerk who is pissed off enough to accept eventually getting fired as a result.

                  1. analog31 · 1790721513 · focus · HN ↗

                     Indeed, power over one person is different than power distributed over an entire country. Good to point that out.

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