4 ms·

I strongly disagree that it's no one's business where that money is going. That money is used to influence public policy, which can have a very real effect on m

I strongly disagree that it's no one's business where that money is going. That money is used to influence public policy, which can have a very real effect on me and my life. I think it should be very public knowledge that, a group that is advocating against climate change, for instance, be required to disclose that all of it's major donors are members of the oil and gas industry. I think this idea of unlimited dark money coming into our elections to influence policy is absolutely terrifying, and without knowing who is giving the money, combating the influence of these groups is much, much more difficult.

Simulacra 8y ago
Every time you give to MoveOn.org or similar organizations, that money is doing the exact same thing. Let's turn this around for a moment. That donation you gave to the ACLU, or Black Lives Matter... If it's public, or in a way that can be made public, then as an employer I can use that to disqualify you from a job. As an apartment complex, I can find subtle ways to dissuade you from living there, such as a higher rent, or other fees. I can use my political bias against you, just because you gave to a group I don't like. If I can do that, why can't you do that to me? By keeping donor information private, no one can weaponize that information, and no one can use it to discriminate. Do we really want people harassing one another in public, or worse, for whom they give to? Who I support, who I give money to, is no ones business but mine, and the organization I give it to, because at the end of the day I don't want you to harass me, and come after me because you disagree.
- s73v3r_ 8y ago
  First of all, I wholeheartedly reject the idea that giving to a civil rights organization should be treated the same as giving to an organization meant to downplay climate change. Second, without the information that large, rich people and organizations are the ones behind these groups, their message changes. And again, it is not "no one's business but yours," because those things that you are advocating for affect me. Those laws you're fighting to enact or repeal affect me. So no, it is not just your business.
  - Simulacra 8y ago
    /First of all, I wholeheartedly reject the idea that giving to a civil rights organization should be treated the same as giving to an organization meant to downplay climate change./ Only because YOU believe it. Others don't agree with you, and therein lies the problem: You wish to weaponize data against people because you disagree with them. You're taking this much too personally, which signals that you have an emotional fixation on a specific ideology, or position, and anger at those who you disagree with. That's not how a democracy works.
    - s73v3r_ 8y ago
      No, because it is correct. I do not buy for one single second this idea that all opinions are equally valid and equally deserving. That is patently false, and I will not fall into the trap of false equivalence.

Simulacra 8y ago

Every time you give to MoveOn.org or similar organizations, that money is doing the exact same thing. Let's turn this around for a moment. That donation you gave to the ACLU, or Black Lives Matter... If it's public, or in a way that can be made public, then as an employer I can use that to disqualify you from a job. As an apartment complex, I can find subtle ways to dissuade you from living there, such as a higher rent, or other fees. I can use my political bias against you, just because you gave to a group I don't like. If I can do that, why can't you do that to me? By keeping donor information private, no one can weaponize that information, and no one can use it to discriminate. Do we really want people harassing one another in public, or worse, for whom they give to? Who I support, who I give money to, is no ones business but mine, and the organization I give it to, because at the end of the day I don't want you to harass me, and come after me because you disagree.

s73v3r_ 8y ago
First of all, I wholeheartedly reject the idea that giving to a civil rights organization should be treated the same as giving to an organization meant to downplay climate change. Second, without the information that large, rich people and organizations are the ones behind these groups, their message changes. And again, it is not "no one's business but yours," because those things that you are advocating for affect me. Those laws you're fighting to enact or repeal affect me. So no, it is not just your business.
- Simulacra 8y ago
  /First of all, I wholeheartedly reject the idea that giving to a civil rights organization should be treated the same as giving to an organization meant to downplay climate change./ Only because YOU believe it. Others don't agree with you, and therein lies the problem: You wish to weaponize data against people because you disagree with them. You're taking this much too personally, which signals that you have an emotional fixation on a specific ideology, or position, and anger at those who you disagree with. That's not how a democracy works.
  - s73v3r_ 8y ago
    No, because it is correct. I do not buy for one single second this idea that all opinions are equally valid and equally deserving. That is patently false, and I will not fall into the trap of false equivalence.