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This is absolutely true, but let us remember that the creepiest pervasive surveillance entity in SV is probably Palantir. I am sure that Obama did not give Pete

This is absolutely true, but let us remember that the creepiest pervasive surveillance entity in SV is probably Palantir. I am sure that Obama did not give Peter Thiel warm fuzzies (based on his position on the Trump transition team) and yet they showed no sign of abatement during Obama's presidency. I think it is foolish to think all of SV are allies of the people.

dictum 10y ago
Thought experiment: who/what is the 2016 equivalent of circa-2013 Peter Thiel considering a candidate to endorse in the next election?
- diyorgasms 10y ago
  I think this might have been a hypothetical question on your part, but one name does stand out to me, and that's Tim Cook. Consider that Trump was openly hostile toward Apple on the campaign trail, and that Tim Cook himself is gay, and the GOP establishment wants to roll back protections for LGBT+ individuals. And consider Apple's vast war chest, which could really make a difference assuming Citizens United isn't overturned.
  - mzw_mzw 10y ago
    Wait, so unaccountable billionaires pouring money into politics is now a good thing all of a sudden? Between this and the 180 on surveillance I am getting serious whiplash.
    - diyorgasms 10y ago
      No, billionaires pouring money into politics is not a good thing, but it is the status quo. As long as it's the status quo, I'd like to see that money being used to oppose autocracy. But I'd be happier to see money out of politics entirely. And I really don't think there's been a 180 on surveillance. I think the only people who were supporting the surveillance apparatus were the same people of an authoritarian bent who are now supporting Trump. You are seeing ideological inconsistency where there is none in an effort to make your political opponents appear as hypocrites.
      - mzw_mzw 10y ago
        > I think the only people who were supporting the surveillance apparatus were the same people of an authoritarian bent who are now supporting Trump. And the folks who voted and agitated for surveillance state champions Obama in '12 and Clinton in '16, of course.
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]

dictum 10y ago

Thought experiment: who/what is the 2016 equivalent of circa-2013 Peter Thiel considering a candidate to endorse in the next election?

diyorgasms 10y ago
I think this might have been a hypothetical question on your part, but one name does stand out to me, and that's Tim Cook. Consider that Trump was openly hostile toward Apple on the campaign trail, and that Tim Cook himself is gay, and the GOP establishment wants to roll back protections for LGBT+ individuals. And consider Apple's vast war chest, which could really make a difference assuming Citizens United isn't overturned.
- mzw_mzw 10y ago
  Wait, so unaccountable billionaires pouring money into politics is now a good thing all of a sudden? Between this and the 180 on surveillance I am getting serious whiplash.
  - diyorgasms 10y ago
    No, billionaires pouring money into politics is not a good thing, but it is the status quo. As long as it's the status quo, I'd like to see that money being used to oppose autocracy. But I'd be happier to see money out of politics entirely. And I really don't think there's been a 180 on surveillance. I think the only people who were supporting the surveillance apparatus were the same people of an authoritarian bent who are now supporting Trump. You are seeing ideological inconsistency where there is none in an effort to make your political opponents appear as hypocrites.
    - mzw_mzw 10y ago
      > I think the only people who were supporting the surveillance apparatus were the same people of an authoritarian bent who are now supporting Trump. And the folks who voted and agitated for surveillance state champions Obama in '12 and Clinton in '16, of course.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]