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This seems to pop up in different forms on HN every now and then and then the same arguments all take place in the comments so allow me to start. As a Swede I

This seems to pop up in different forms on HN every now and then and then the same arguments all take place in the comments so allow me to start. As a Swede I would not want to have it any other way, and any time I'm abroad I miss the simplicity. There are privacy issues and cost issues sure, but this is a general problem in lots of ways for most nations.

deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
maaku 11y ago
Do you trust your government?
- willvarfar 11y ago
  I think all swedes do. I don't know any who don't trust them in the sense I think you mean. Sure there are many who think politicians ineffective or don't agree with their views, but even petty corruption is unthinkable.
- yourapostasy 11y ago
  We should teach children to ask from an early age: "Do you trust unsupervised human nature in others to always act beneficially towards your interests?" Sadly, primary and even secondary schools no longer commonly read the old classical works to cast a jaundiced eye towards unchecked human nature, to drive home the point to children that regardless of the era, form of government, technology, etc., unchecked human nature is never to be trusted for the foreseeable future (backed by copious data points over the entirety of recorded human history).
- scrollaway 11y ago
  The question is not "Do you trust your government?", it's "Do you trust your next government?"
  - boznz 11y ago
    +1
- Numberwang 11y ago
  I very much trust the Swedish government based on past decisions, and a general knowledge of the Swedish character (that goes beyond cultural ebbs and flows). Also, trust is easier in a small country with a good track record. And I trust my fellow Swedes to keep electing trustworthy governments in the future.
biafra 11y ago
I think anonymous payment via cash money should be a human right. In Germany, AFAIK every merchant has to accept cash. And I prefer it that way. Sure, it is fine if every merchant also accepts any cards, or BItcoin, or whatever. But cash is important.
collyw 11y ago
I can understand that from most people, buts to me its a bit like the "if you have nothing to hide argument" - it woks for the majority, but there are way too many edge cases to consider. Say for example you wanted to buy some weed - something that a reasonable proportion of normal and reasonable people do - but for political reasons is illegal. Do you really need that being trackable?

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

maaku 11y ago

Do you trust your government?

willvarfar 11y ago
I think all swedes do. I don't know any who don't trust them in the sense I think you mean. Sure there are many who think politicians ineffective or don't agree with their views, but even petty corruption is unthinkable.
yourapostasy 11y ago
We should teach children to ask from an early age: "Do you trust unsupervised human nature in others to always act beneficially towards your interests?" Sadly, primary and even secondary schools no longer commonly read the old classical works to cast a jaundiced eye towards unchecked human nature, to drive home the point to children that regardless of the era, form of government, technology, etc., unchecked human nature is never to be trusted for the foreseeable future (backed by copious data points over the entirety of recorded human history).
scrollaway 11y ago
The question is not "Do you trust your government?", it's "Do you trust your next government?"
- boznz 11y ago
  +1
Numberwang 11y ago
I very much trust the Swedish government based on past decisions, and a general knowledge of the Swedish character (that goes beyond cultural ebbs and flows). Also, trust is easier in a small country with a good track record. And I trust my fellow Swedes to keep electing trustworthy governments in the future.

biafra 11y ago

I think anonymous payment via cash money should be a human right. In Germany, AFAIK every merchant has to accept cash. And I prefer it that way. Sure, it is fine if every merchant also accepts any cards, or BItcoin, or whatever. But cash is important.

collyw 11y ago

I can understand that from most people, buts to me its a bit like the "if you have nothing to hide argument" - it woks for the majority, but there are way too many edge cases to consider. Say for example you wanted to buy some weed - something that a reasonable proportion of normal and reasonable people do - but for political reasons is illegal. Do you really need that being trackable?