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I supported the FCC's move to assist with consumer privacy, although it was a tough call. I oppose what the Republican Congress is doing. Having said all of t

I supported the FCC's move to assist with consumer privacy, although it was a tough call. I oppose what the Republican Congress is doing. Having said all of that, the FCC has no freaking business defining privacy. The system was terribly out of whack to have them do this in the first place. My support of their move and my opposition to what Congress is currently doing is simply because I'm trying to pick the lesser of two evils. It's not because there was simple good position/side and bad position/side. Wish that it were so simple. Both political parties have screwed over privacy and anonymity online -- in terrible and huge ways. And the system is terribly corrupt. And....we should take action to make our political views clear. My problem is that "let's take action" turns quickly into "Group X is in the pocket of political party Y" And that's how we got here in the first place.

pnathan 10y ago
Hi Daniel, I would agree that the remit of Congress is to govern the people, by the people, and privacy falls under that umbrella. The executive branch should not be operating as an independent law-making body, as it has been. I would gently suggest that when geeks look at politics, it's much like looking at a huge codebase written for decades - our reaction is that it's corrupt and needs a rewrite. I have learned through very careful study and hard experience that often there are good reasons for codebases to be "crufty", and similar with politics. Doesn't mean reform can't be done, but it means we have to work within the codebase, and with the current web of loyalties to some extent.
- DanielBMarkham 10y ago
  Thank you for your kind reply. As both a geek and a student of history and philosophy, it's nice to hear civility :) I specialize in helping large organizations of people change and become better, so I've been quite fortunate to have hands-on experience with these kinds of things. For a good political person who can work contacts, there's always value. I would humbly posit that the system as a whole has overall attributes. I really don't like waving my hands around and saying "we're all going to die", but sometimes the Titanic actually is sinking. I'm sure those guys in the band had a hoot playing those last few songs, though. So I understand and respect your opinion. Hopefully I'm able to see the tactical as well as strategic situation. Maybe not, but that's what great conversations are for. :) Thanks again.

pnathan 10y ago

Hi Daniel, I would agree that the remit of Congress is to govern the people, by the people, and privacy falls under that umbrella. The executive branch should not be operating as an independent law-making body, as it has been. I would gently suggest that when geeks look at politics, it's much like looking at a huge codebase written for decades - our reaction is that it's corrupt and needs a rewrite. I have learned through very careful study and hard experience that often there are good reasons for codebases to be "crufty", and similar with politics. Doesn't mean reform can't be done, but it means we have to work within the codebase, and with the current web of loyalties to some extent.

DanielBMarkham 10y ago
Thank you for your kind reply. As both a geek and a student of history and philosophy, it's nice to hear civility :) I specialize in helping large organizations of people change and become better, so I've been quite fortunate to have hands-on experience with these kinds of things. For a good political person who can work contacts, there's always value. I would humbly posit that the system as a whole has overall attributes. I really don't like waving my hands around and saying "we're all going to die", but sometimes the Titanic actually is sinking. I'm sure those guys in the band had a hoot playing those last few songs, though. So I understand and respect your opinion. Hopefully I'm able to see the tactical as well as strategic situation. Maybe not, but that's what great conversations are for. :) Thanks again.