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Sadly, you are wholeheartedly buying into the FBI's point without at all seeing the huge gaping flaw in it. Tyranny of the majority is the problem, not "our" c
by natch 11y ago
Sadly, you are wholeheartedly buying into the FBI's point without at all seeing the huge gaping flaw in it.
Tyranny of the majority is the problem, not "our" choice.
The protection against tyranny of the majority is not, as you seem to think, getting the majority to change "our choice."
The protection against tyranny of the majority is basic respect, among those in power in institutions like the FBI, for rights like those in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
- mikeash 11y agoI had this opinion long before, so I'm not "buying into" what they're saying, unless you're just using that phrase as a weird way of saying that we happen to agree. Tyranny of the majority is indeed a major problem here, but it's not how I see it discussed. The tech community seems to mostly believe that government surveillance is a case of the government acting against the wishes of the people. As far as I can tell, this is because the tech community believes that their opinions are representative, but they aren't really. The distinction is important, because it informs the solution. If you believe that most people don't want surveillance and you focus your efforts on getting the government to do what the people want, then you'll accomplish nothing if it turns out that most people want it. If the problem is a tyranny of the majority, then your approach will be different.