5 ms·

Right now, politics is hacker news

5 points by mhartl 18y ago

As I write, the #1 story on Hacker News is The Economist endorsement of Barack Obama for president; it is currently dead. Another fast-rising story is a Financial Times endorsement to the same effect; it is alive, but its days (or minutes) are certainly numbered. Ordinarily, I am a strong supporter of a clear separation between Hacker News and state; politics, if allowed to infiltrate, would soon dominate. But these are not ordinary times. There is an election on Tuesday, with historic implications. Until the election and its aftermath are over, politics is hacker news. Stories relevant to the upcoming election should, for now, be allowed to live.

mixmax 18y ago
Maybe if you're American this is the most important political story of the decade. If you're European, Asian, or Africen it probably isn't. Yes it will impact us, but not more than the global economic meltdown, Pakistans near default, the Iraq war, etc. Were not all from the US.
- palish 18y ago
  No, but some of us are, and we would show your country the same respect of providing coverage and discussion of your historic events that affect hackers in your country.
  - deleted 18y ago
    [deleted]
  - mixmax 18y ago
    I don't mean to be demeaning in any way, but no you wouldn't. I've never seen a post about European political issues here, and I don't think I ever will.
    - palish 18y ago
      Excuse me, but if a story appeared here that had significant impact upon foreign hackers, then I would upvote it, personally.
- theoneill 18y ago
  Is there anything worse that's happened to the world as a whole in the last decade than George Bush being the American president? I don't mean that as a controversial statement; I'm serious. What else had as bad effects globally? Maybe global warming.
  - mixmax 18y ago
    I see what you're saying, and I don't entirely disagree. That being said I could certainly name a few things that affected me as a European more than Bush being president. Think of how you would respond if stories about an important election in China popped up all the time, not only here but everywhere. It would certainly affect you since China is a large global player, but the election of your local governor would probably be more important to you. I think this is how many of us feel - it's important, but not that important.
pg 18y ago
I wasn't sure what to do about the Economist endorsement story. Some editors wanted to kill it. I resisted for a while, but then I tried asking myself what I'd have done if the story was "Economist endorses McCain." I wouldn't have been so happy to see that on HN. So I decided I was being a hypocrite and killed it. I agree with you that this election feels historic, though. So let's try a poll about what to do: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=349421 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=349421
- mhartl 18y ago
  I read the print edition of The Economist and only check my snail mail once a week. I would likely have missed this endorsement were it not for Hacker News. But it looks like my side is losing the poll; pity.
  - ivankirigin 18y ago
    I read about endorsement on twitter & friendfeed.
Allocator2008 18y ago
It would be interesting if Obama were elected President, and Tory Leader David Cameron beat the current PM Gordon Brown. Both Cameron and Obama are young, charismatic, in touch with the "zeitgiest" of the day, etc., and I think share some similarities in policy points of view. Both, for instance, put the environment high on the priority list. I think an Obama - Cameron dynamic would be fascinating to watch, perhaps one which would rank with the Thatcher - Reagan dynamic that ended the Cold War. I think the principle underlying both individuals or their rise in prominence is "change". Both their nations have economic struggles and both promise "change". I think Cameron and McCain could work together fine, don't get me wrong, it's just from a generational kind of perspective that makes me think Cameron and Obama are on the same "wave length". Obama met Cameron during his European tour and I think the meeting went well. Certainly would be interesting to see them win their respective elections.
anamax 18y ago
> There is an election on Tuesday, with historic implications. What US Presidential election doesn't have "historic implications"? For that matter, what US national election doesn't have "historic implications"? This is just another US presidential election.
- mhartl 18y ago
  This is just another US presidential election. I agree that "historic" is a terribly over-used adjective in this context, but I find it hard to believe you could live in (and love) this country without feeling that this election is more "historic" than most.
  - ivankirigin 18y ago
    You find it hard to believe he loves this country because of an opinion on a subjective matter of semantics? Please... I'll give you a one liner why this election might not be 'historic': neither likely victor has any intention of making the federal enterprise smaller than $3T. But don't mind us libertarians in the corner :)
    - mhartl 18y ago
      (a) It's not clear that he's an American. In fact I rather suspect he's not. In any case, and with my melodramatic invocation of "love" notwithstanding, it's perverse not to recognize that this is no ordinary election, regardless of which candidate you favor. (b) I didn't say anything about my views on the election, just that I think it's historic. That goes even for libertarians; though I agree spending will be out of control no matter who wins, the president affects much more than the Federal budget. And an election in the midst of two wars and a global financial crisis with the country's first black presidential candidate is historic no matter how you slice it. (c) I'm an anarcho-capitalist (terrible term) in the David Friedman tradition. Put that in your libertarian pipe and smoke it. ;-)
      - anamax 18y ago

5 points by mhartl 18y ago

mixmax 18y ago

Maybe if you're American this is the most important political story of the decade. If you're European, Asian, or Africen it probably isn't. Yes it will impact us, but not more than the global economic meltdown, Pakistans near default, the Iraq war, etc. Were not all from the US.

palish 18y ago
No, but some of us are, and we would show your country the same respect of providing coverage and discussion of your historic events that affect hackers in your country.
- deleted 18y ago
  [deleted]
- mixmax 18y ago
  I don't mean to be demeaning in any way, but no you wouldn't. I've never seen a post about European political issues here, and I don't think I ever will.
  - palish 18y ago
    Excuse me, but if a story appeared here that had significant impact upon foreign hackers, then I would upvote it, personally.
theoneill 18y ago
Is there anything worse that's happened to the world as a whole in the last decade than George Bush being the American president? I don't mean that as a controversial statement; I'm serious. What else had as bad effects globally? Maybe global warming.
- mixmax 18y ago
  I see what you're saying, and I don't entirely disagree. That being said I could certainly name a few things that affected me as a European more than Bush being president. Think of how you would respond if stories about an important election in China popped up all the time, not only here but everywhere. It would certainly affect you since China is a large global player, but the election of your local governor would probably be more important to you. I think this is how many of us feel - it's important, but not that important.

pg 18y ago

I wasn't sure what to do about the Economist endorsement story. Some editors wanted to kill it. I resisted for a while, but then I tried asking myself what I'd have done if the story was "Economist endorses McCain." I wouldn't have been so happy to see that on HN. So I decided I was being a hypocrite and killed it. I agree with you that this election feels historic, though. So let's try a poll about what to do: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=349421 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=349421

mhartl 18y ago
I read the print edition of The Economist and only check my snail mail once a week. I would likely have missed this endorsement were it not for Hacker News. But it looks like my side is losing the poll; pity.
- ivankirigin 18y ago
  I read about endorsement on twitter & friendfeed.

Allocator2008 18y ago

It would be interesting if Obama were elected President, and Tory Leader David Cameron beat the current PM Gordon Brown. Both Cameron and Obama are young, charismatic, in touch with the "zeitgiest" of the day, etc., and I think share some similarities in policy points of view. Both, for instance, put the environment high on the priority list. I think an Obama - Cameron dynamic would be fascinating to watch, perhaps one which would rank with the Thatcher - Reagan dynamic that ended the Cold War. I think the principle underlying both individuals or their rise in prominence is "change". Both their nations have economic struggles and both promise "change". I think Cameron and McCain could work together fine, don't get me wrong, it's just from a generational kind of perspective that makes me think Cameron and Obama are on the same "wave length". Obama met Cameron during his European tour and I think the meeting went well. Certainly would be interesting to see them win their respective elections.

anamax 18y ago

> There is an election on Tuesday, with historic implications. What US Presidential election doesn't have "historic implications"? For that matter, what US national election doesn't have "historic implications"? This is just another US presidential election.

mhartl 18y ago
This is just another US presidential election. I agree that "historic" is a terribly over-used adjective in this context, but I find it hard to believe you could live in (and love) this country without feeling that this election is more "historic" than most.
- ivankirigin 18y ago
  You find it hard to believe he loves this country because of an opinion on a subjective matter of semantics? Please... I'll give you a one liner why this election might not be 'historic': neither likely victor has any intention of making the federal enterprise smaller than $3T. But don't mind us libertarians in the corner :)
  - mhartl 18y ago
    (a) It's not clear that he's an American. In fact I rather suspect he's not. In any case, and with my melodramatic invocation of "love" notwithstanding, it's perverse not to recognize that this is no ordinary election, regardless of which candidate you favor. (b) I didn't say anything about my views on the election, just that I think it's historic. That goes even for libertarians; though I agree spending will be out of control no matter who wins, the president affects much more than the Federal budget. And an election in the midst of two wars and a global financial crisis with the country's first black presidential candidate is historic no matter how you slice it. (c) I'm an anarcho-capitalist (terrible term) in the David Friedman tradition. Put that in your libertarian pipe and smoke it. ;-)
    - anamax 18y ago