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You can hardly expect politicians to understand the ramifications of the legislation they're proposing. Most of it they haven't even read. Though, to be fair,

by iwwr 15y ago

You can hardly expect politicians to understand the ramifications of the legislation they're proposing. Most of it they haven't even read. Though, to be fair, malicious hackers are the people they're out to get, just that well-meaning people would get caught in the crossfire. Granted, matters are much too complex to be understood by politicians or even many corporate lawyers.

thaumaturgy 15y ago
> You can hardly expect politicians to understand the ramifications of the legislation they're proposing. That anyone would ever say this in a non-ironic sense is flabbergasting.
- afterburner 15y ago
  It is true though. I remembering seeing an interview with a rather frank Congressman confirming this.
- presto8 15y ago
  >> You can hardly expect politicians to understand the ramifications of the legislation they're proposing. > That anyone would ever say this in a non-ironic sense is flabbergasting. Legislators write the laws and then courts figure out the ramifications. Laws get written because of some catalyst, but I wouldn't expect anybody to be able to understand the full ramifications until the law is in place for a while and people have started testing it in the legal system.
Confusion 15y ago
You can hardly expect politicians to understand the ramifications of the legislation they're proposing. Sound of jaw hitting floor If there is one thing I expect politicians to understand, it is exactly that: the laws they propose. Passing the laws that serve their country the best, that is the most important part of their job. Everything else can be delegated, but this is why they spend time together in a room, debating issues and voting on laws. They don't even need to read it: they need a trusted expert to tell them what decision they are taking for the future of their country.
- ataggart 15y ago
  Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) disagrees. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BH43LVm_m0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BH43LVm_m0
  - extension 15y ago
    No, I suspect he probably agrees. And when he suggests that he is being asked to do the impossible, he is blamed for the problem by a public that doesn't want to face the more complex reality (kind of like blaming a security researcher for finding a bug). This common attitude ensures that successful politicians are the ones who maintain the illusion of competence and decisiveness in all circumstances.

by iwwr 15y ago

thaumaturgy 15y ago

> You can hardly expect politicians to understand the ramifications of the legislation they're proposing. That anyone would ever say this in a non-ironic sense is flabbergasting.

afterburner 15y ago
It is true though. I remembering seeing an interview with a rather frank Congressman confirming this.
presto8 15y ago
>> You can hardly expect politicians to understand the ramifications of the legislation they're proposing. > That anyone would ever say this in a non-ironic sense is flabbergasting. Legislators write the laws and then courts figure out the ramifications. Laws get written because of some catalyst, but I wouldn't expect anybody to be able to understand the full ramifications until the law is in place for a while and people have started testing it in the legal system.

Confusion 15y ago

You can hardly expect politicians to understand the ramifications of the legislation they're proposing. Sound of jaw hitting floor If there is one thing I expect politicians to understand, it is exactly that: the laws they propose. Passing the laws that serve their country the best, that is the most important part of their job. Everything else can be delegated, but this is why they spend time together in a room, debating issues and voting on laws. They don't even need to read it: they need a trusted expert to tell them what decision they are taking for the future of their country.

ataggart 15y ago
Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) disagrees. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BH43LVm_m0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BH43LVm_m0
- extension 15y ago
  No, I suspect he probably agrees. And when he suggests that he is being asked to do the impossible, he is blamed for the problem by a public that doesn't want to face the more complex reality (kind of like blaming a security researcher for finding a bug). This common attitude ensures that successful politicians are the ones who maintain the illusion of competence and decisiveness in all circumstances.