5 ms·

I would love to see more systems of government/law use a github style system where you can plainly read, comment, and propose changes to documents. Maybe a comb

I would love to see more systems of government/law use a github style system where you can plainly read, comment, and propose changes to documents. Maybe a combination of the two.

simias 8y ago
In theory that sounds good, in practice how do you avoid it becoming an unusable mess? This would basically be a repo with millions of potential contributors.
- 0x006A 8y ago
  same way you do it with code. using a platform that allows others to see changes does not mean its open posting, nor does it mean every proposed changes gets merged.
  - xchaotic 8y ago
    except people have vested interest in not keeping it very open and potential contributors also have vested interests. I don't think 'blockchain' adds value here
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- mrobot 8y ago
  You could have it work like our current republic, where only elected officials can submit pull requests to the central legislation repo. If you really wanted you could have your elected official look over a pull request from you to them, but this would be rarer. Do you think this would be manageable?
- mrobot 8y ago
  I think we should at least attempt it instead of throwing our hands up. One good thing would be to get rid of giant bills like omnibus bills and make all legislative changes more atomic.
supermdguy 8y ago
It sounds nice, but it'd probably end up with large corporations using their legal teams to make laws that favor them. Also, it'd exclude anyone who doesn't have time to review new legislation written in convoluted legalese.
- mrobot 8y ago
  Can you imagine any way to restrict corporations from doing this?
  - supermdguy 8y ago
    Potentially, but there'd probably be loopholes, like paying individuals to promote a corporation's viewpoint. Even if, hypothetically, there were a way to 100% stop corporations from influencing legislation, wealthy individuals could still probably profit from using lawyers to create complicated laws that end up making them even wealthier.
- crdoconnor 8y ago
  >it'd probably end up with large corporations using their legal teams to make laws that favor them In public, where they can be called on their bullshit - instead of in private meetings as happens now. >Also, it'd exclude anyone who doesn't have time to review new legislation written It'd mean that a dedicated and conscientious reader with time on their hands could submit the really egregious diffs to hacker news and get them shot down with prejudice that much quicker.

I would love to see more systems of government/law use a github style system where you can plainly read, comment, and propose changes to documents. Maybe a combination of the two.

simias 8y ago

In theory that sounds good, in practice how do you avoid it becoming an unusable mess? This would basically be a repo with millions of potential contributors.

0x006A 8y ago
same way you do it with code. using a platform that allows others to see changes does not mean its open posting, nor does it mean every proposed changes gets merged.
- xchaotic 8y ago
  except people have vested interest in not keeping it very open and potential contributors also have vested interests. I don't think 'blockchain' adds value here
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
mrobot 8y ago
You could have it work like our current republic, where only elected officials can submit pull requests to the central legislation repo. If you really wanted you could have your elected official look over a pull request from you to them, but this would be rarer. Do you think this would be manageable?
mrobot 8y ago
I think we should at least attempt it instead of throwing our hands up. One good thing would be to get rid of giant bills like omnibus bills and make all legislative changes more atomic.

supermdguy 8y ago

It sounds nice, but it'd probably end up with large corporations using their legal teams to make laws that favor them. Also, it'd exclude anyone who doesn't have time to review new legislation written in convoluted legalese.

mrobot 8y ago
Can you imagine any way to restrict corporations from doing this?
- supermdguy 8y ago
  Potentially, but there'd probably be loopholes, like paying individuals to promote a corporation's viewpoint. Even if, hypothetically, there were a way to 100% stop corporations from influencing legislation, wealthy individuals could still probably profit from using lawyers to create complicated laws that end up making them even wealthier.
crdoconnor 8y ago
>it'd probably end up with large corporations using their legal teams to make laws that favor them In public, where they can be called on their bullshit - instead of in private meetings as happens now. >Also, it'd exclude anyone who doesn't have time to review new legislation written It'd mean that a dedicated and conscientious reader with time on their hands could submit the really egregious diffs to hacker news and get them shot down with prejudice that much quicker.