2 ms·

So it's about being lied to to support someone gaining power vs being lied to to fuck with the political system in the US? How about the root of the actual pro

So it's about being lied to to support someone gaining power vs being lied to to fuck with the political system in the US? How about the root of the actual problem: that the voting populous is trained to absorb information without questioning its authenticity or accuracy. It's more convenient to hear something you agree with and believe it is true, so this is the general way that folks "become informed." Now this strategy of "becoming informed" is biting us in the ass, and the plan is to play this cat/mouse game with questionable sources of information rather than try to tackle the actual problem?

sp332 9y ago
No, it's really a separate issue. It's possible to influence an election even without lying. It's just undemocratic and illegal for someone outside the country to try to persuade people in the country to vote a certain way.
- unpwn 9y ago
  How is it illegal for someone outside the US to comment on a US election thread? Is it illegal for CNN to talk about Russian politics? Is it illegal for Russian media to cover US politics? Why would it be legal for institutions but not for individuals? How is any of that undemocratic?
  - hsod 9y ago
    If they are paid to comment on behalf of or in opposition to a particular candidate, it's (probably) a violation of campaign finance laws. I don't think anyone is arguing that a Russian with a personal interest in American politics is barred from discussing a US election.
  - sp332 9y ago
    The people who are not voting should not be involved in the vote. It's not illegal for Russian media to cover American politics in Russia, but I think it was illegal for them to buy a bunch of ads in America without disclosing their Russian origin. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/twitter-finds-hundreds-of-accounts-tied-to-russian-operatives/2017/09/28/6cf26f7e-a484-11e7-ade1-76d061d56efa_story.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/twitter-find...
    - craftyguy 9y ago
      I don't think that is (currently) illegal. Morally wrong? Yea, probably, but that's beside the point.. and honestly this is all a red herring since it's just Congress trying to treat the symptom and not the disease.
    - unpwn 9y ago
      By your principles felons and minors shouldn't be able to discuss the politics either... I completely disagree with that stance and find it undemocratic myself. Also its not illegal for companies outside the US to buy adds in the US (Assuming facebook/reddit is even considered the US)... And parties outside the US have been making contributions to political campaigns in the US for years so outside "interference" is nothing new...
      - sp332 9y ago
        Well I'm in favor of felons voting. And you're right, legal liability in this case is on the Trump campaign and not the Russians. https://mobile.twitter.com/SethAbramson/status/915685900214063105 https://mobile.twitter.com/SethAbramson/status/9156859002140... Depending on the severity of the "meddling", America could impose sanctions on Russia, and it certainly won't help the diplomatic atmosphere when discussing current sanctions either.

sp332 9y ago

No, it's really a separate issue. It's possible to influence an election even without lying. It's just undemocratic and illegal for someone outside the country to try to persuade people in the country to vote a certain way.

unpwn 9y ago
How is it illegal for someone outside the US to comment on a US election thread? Is it illegal for CNN to talk about Russian politics? Is it illegal for Russian media to cover US politics? Why would it be legal for institutions but not for individuals? How is any of that undemocratic?
- hsod 9y ago
  If they are paid to comment on behalf of or in opposition to a particular candidate, it's (probably) a violation of campaign finance laws. I don't think anyone is arguing that a Russian with a personal interest in American politics is barred from discussing a US election.
- sp332 9y ago
  The people who are not voting should not be involved in the vote. It's not illegal for Russian media to cover American politics in Russia, but I think it was illegal for them to buy a bunch of ads in America without disclosing their Russian origin. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/twitter-finds-hundreds-of-accounts-tied-to-russian-operatives/2017/09/28/6cf26f7e-a484-11e7-ade1-76d061d56efa_story.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/twitter-find...
  - craftyguy 9y ago
    I don't think that is (currently) illegal. Morally wrong? Yea, probably, but that's beside the point.. and honestly this is all a red herring since it's just Congress trying to treat the symptom and not the disease.
  - unpwn 9y ago
    By your principles felons and minors shouldn't be able to discuss the politics either... I completely disagree with that stance and find it undemocratic myself. Also its not illegal for companies outside the US to buy adds in the US (Assuming facebook/reddit is even considered the US)... And parties outside the US have been making contributions to political campaigns in the US for years so outside "interference" is nothing new...
    - sp332 9y ago
      Well I'm in favor of felons voting. And you're right, legal liability in this case is on the Trump campaign and not the Russians. https://mobile.twitter.com/SethAbramson/status/915685900214063105 https://mobile.twitter.com/SethAbramson/status/9156859002140... Depending on the severity of the "meddling", America could impose sanctions on Russia, and it certainly won't help the diplomatic atmosphere when discussing current sanctions either.