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. Hnrobert42 · 1790636806 · focus · HN ↗

               But then you only elect politicians who don't care about privacy. I'm not sure those are the people I want crafting policy.

               1. thot_experiment · 1790637171 · focus · HN ↗

                  Selection pressure sure, but obviously worth it. Public servants work for us and we should be able to see what they're up to.

                  1. awesome_dude · 1790638656 · focus · HN ↗

                     Is that how you want your employer to behave? You want them to surveil you all day every day in case you are doing something that is counter to their business?

                     1. nkrisc · 1790639351 · focus · HN ↗

                        How is that related?

                        1. awesome_dude · 1790640606 · focus · HN ↗

                           How is someone saying that public servants work for them different from that same person working for a private employer?????

                           1. thot_experiment · 1790642838 · focus · HN ↗

                              What? The public/private distinction? How is that confusing? It's literally in the name.

                              1. awesome_dude · 1790643844 · focus · HN ↗

                                 They're employees just like you and me, complaining that they work for you then refusing to allow the same rule to be applied to yourself by your employer is....

                                 1. nkrisc · 1790683528 · focus · HN ↗

                                    The difference is one works for the public on public dollars and the other works for a private entity.

                                    Your mistake is thinking public and private are the same.

                                    1. awesome_dude · 1790711491 · focus · HN ↗

                                       No. The difference is you thinking that you, as the employer, have the right to surveil people, but then claim that you, as an employee, have the right to be free from such horrific conditions.

                                       There's no other explanation.

                                       1. stackbutterflow · 1790772423 · focus · HN ↗

                                          For one, in this analogy, we (the "employers") have no power but the "employee" (the government) has the power of the law and the power of the guns.

                                          In a private company the employer has the power over the employees.

                                       2. nkrisc · 1790851501 · focus · HN ↗

                                          We do not employ public servants. The government, which governs with our consent, does. They are paid with our tax money, but we do not employ them.

                                          Working for the government and wielding power over the general public is a privilege and comes with higher expectations than a private employee.

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