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The right way POLITICALLY to interpret recent claims of "bias" against Google is as a preparation of the battlefield for successful anti-trust action down the r

The right way POLITICALLY to interpret recent claims of "bias" against Google is as a preparation of the battlefield for successful anti-trust action down the road. i.e., it's just "politics". ...but then again, the Google Doodle I see today is: "register to vote!" That's clearly an attempt to put a thumb on the scales, against a party and administration that is threatening anti-trust action against Google. I'm already voting the way Google wants me to, but a shovel is a shovel.

travmatt 8y ago
You believe providing citizens information on how to vote is putting a thumb of the scales and biasing voters, and instructing you on how to vote?
- a_hypotehsis 8y ago
  Thanks for the comment! I did not and would not classify this as an "instruction". However, given what we know about voter demographics and turnout in the United States during "mid-term" elections (low turnout among young people, with much "green field" to expand into)... it's clearly an attempt to influence the election, in the favor of Google shareholders' interest. I'd cite references, but they are too easy to Google (heh). It's a shovel all right. (PS -- don't get me wrong or reflexively downvote me for perceived partisanship -- my party interests align with Google's in this matter, outside of anti-trust issues) EDIT: to add, Google ran no such Doodle for National Voter Registration day last year, according to their archives. HMMMMM.
archagon 8y ago
I mean, if broadcasting an innocuous "register to vote" is taken as bias against the party in power, then maybe it says something about that party.
- a_hypotehsis 8y ago
  I agree with you, though it's specific to the US Republican party (not just whatever party is in power). It's definitely saying something. Their key demographics are relatively more registered to vote and relatively more likely to vote. General "get out the vote" and "register to vote" campaigns favor the Democrats. I'm in favor of such campaigns generally, but in this case it's quite self-serving.
deleted 8y ago
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travmatt 8y ago

You believe providing citizens information on how to vote is putting a thumb of the scales and biasing voters, and instructing you on how to vote?

a_hypotehsis 8y ago
Thanks for the comment! I did not and would not classify this as an "instruction". However, given what we know about voter demographics and turnout in the United States during "mid-term" elections (low turnout among young people, with much "green field" to expand into)... it's clearly an attempt to influence the election, in the favor of Google shareholders' interest. I'd cite references, but they are too easy to Google (heh). It's a shovel all right. (PS -- don't get me wrong or reflexively downvote me for perceived partisanship -- my party interests align with Google's in this matter, outside of anti-trust issues) EDIT: to add, Google ran no such Doodle for National Voter Registration day last year, according to their archives. HMMMMM.

archagon 8y ago

I mean, if broadcasting an innocuous "register to vote" is taken as bias against the party in power, then maybe it says something about that party.

a_hypotehsis 8y ago
I agree with you, though it's specific to the US Republican party (not just whatever party is in power). It's definitely saying something. Their key demographics are relatively more registered to vote and relatively more likely to vote. General "get out the vote" and "register to vote" campaigns favor the Democrats. I'm in favor of such campaigns generally, but in this case it's quite self-serving.

deleted 8y ago

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