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Its like saying "Donald Trump could be Bigfoot" or "Hillary Clinton might be a space lizard" Sure, lots of things could be lots of things, but this article off

by 464192002d7fe1c 10y ago

Its like saying "Donald Trump could be Bigfoot" or "Hillary Clinton might be a space lizard" Sure, lots of things could be lots of things, but this article offers nothing beyond completely pointless speculation, entirely bereft of substance. Yet, most people will see this as a fake indictment of Trump and/or Thiel.

confounded 10y ago
Well, Donald Trump is very unlikely to be Bigfoot, because there is wide consensus that Bigfoot does not exist, and because there is no evidence that DJT is, in fact, Bigfoot. If someone declared this as a fact, and presented it as news, I'd agree that it was "fake news". However, it's both established (in the piece, elsewhere) and uncontroversial that: - Peter Thiel is an adviser to Donald Trump - Peter Thiel founded Palantir, which is one of the most valuable companies in the world due to its surveillance and analysis of the population for the federal government, including a contract specifically with ICE for $35MM - Donald Trump's policy is to increase deportations - Advisers to the President are likely to both be exposed to privileged information which can be commercially exploited, and able influence policy in their own financial interests. - These conflicts of interest provide incentives for government officials to act against the interests of the people, and are associated with political corruption. What about the above is speculation, or bereft of substance? You are free to express that you find certain facts displeasing or uncomfortable, but it's childish to pretend that they are lies when they are well substantiated.
- 464192002d7fe1c 10y ago
  What is speculation is the connection between things. The entirety of your last point, and most of your 2nd-to-last point are also entirely specious. The point is, there is no more evidence that Trump, Thiel or anyone else connected with the administration will act in ways contrary to the best interests of the American people than there is that Trump is bigfoot or hillary clinton is a space lizard.

confounded 10y ago

Well, Donald Trump is very unlikely to be Bigfoot, because there is wide consensus that Bigfoot does not exist, and because there is no evidence that DJT is, in fact, Bigfoot. If someone declared this as a fact, and presented it as news, I'd agree that it was "fake news". However, it's both established (in the piece, elsewhere) and uncontroversial that: - Peter Thiel is an adviser to Donald Trump - Peter Thiel founded Palantir, which is one of the most valuable companies in the world due to its surveillance and analysis of the population for the federal government, including a contract specifically with ICE for $35MM - Donald Trump's policy is to increase deportations - Advisers to the President are likely to both be exposed to privileged information which can be commercially exploited, and able influence policy in their own financial interests. - These conflicts of interest provide incentives for government officials to act against the interests of the people, and are associated with political corruption. What about the above is speculation, or bereft of substance? You are free to express that you find certain facts displeasing or uncomfortable, but it's childish to pretend that they are lies when they are well substantiated.

464192002d7fe1c 10y ago
What is speculation is the connection between things. The entirety of your last point, and most of your 2nd-to-last point are also entirely specious. The point is, there is no more evidence that Trump, Thiel or anyone else connected with the administration will act in ways contrary to the best interests of the American people than there is that Trump is bigfoot or hillary clinton is a space lizard.