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This makes me think that the Chinese model where a company beyond certain size simply becomes a branch of the government actually does have decent upsides. Of c
by anal_reactor 1y ago
This makes me think that the Chinese model where a company beyond certain size simply becomes a branch of the government actually does have decent upsides. Of course I don't have any specific suggestions about the process of transfer of power and we shouldn't judge the Chinese companies from the point of view of western liberal ideals, but my point is, imagine Gmail, Android and YouTube being public services maintained by the government. Like, from technological point of view, these services are virtually solved, there's nothing much to do to improve them besides basic maintenance, which is exactly what government is great at. Moreover, being public service, we'd accept better quality even if it's a money sink, instead of bitching about endless ads and slop and dark UI patterns and bad customer service. Meanwhile let the private companies innovate in areas that truly do need invitation.
- dzink 1y agoThere is a mistaken assumption here that government will ever do anything better for tech products.
- afavour 1y agoThe government is at least far more accountable to the people. Certainly, it could be a lot more accountable than it is, it’s very far from ideal. But it’s something.
- MrDarcy 1y agoHow is the Chinese government accountable to it’s people given the track record of killing those people who disagree with it?
- ceejayoz 1y agoIf they fuck up enough they wind up with heads on spikes. That seems quite unlikely in the tech industry.
- ultrarunner 1y agoI wonder what Luigi thinks about this
- dzink 1y agoIt is the least accountable to the people organization possible. Solving problems via government is akin to shooting drones with a cannon. No feedback mechanism, long terms with no elections, unlimited distribution of your money to people that are their buddies.
- yoyohello13 1y ago> No feedback mechanism, long terms with no elections, unlimited distribution of your money to people that are their buddies. Privatization has all these same problems. The only difference is none of it is considered bad or illegal.
- afavour 1y ago> long terms with no elections In the US at least members of Congress have terms of two years. How much shorter could they get?
- deleted 1y ago[deleted]
- anal_reactor 1y agoYes, and it aligns with my experience. It takes a while, but it works. My home country created an app where I can have legally valid ID and driving license. When the coronavirus hit most of the infrastructure for the vaccination certificates was already there. The one where I live in now created a website where tax report boils down to a series of easily understandable questions, and most users will just click "next next next send". Train company has an app that allows me to check the timetable very easily. I really fail to see why a mid-sized government would be incapable of providing basic email service.
- pfortuny 1y agoExactly. Look at railroads in the USA… For instance.
- yoyohello13 1y agoI think the term "Robber Baron" applies quite well to big tech.
- GuinansEyebrows 1y agohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18F https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18F we had an agency that was actually doing this, and fairly well by most accounts. it was shut down by the Trump administration. never forget that we can have nice things, if we don't let people take them away from us.
- polytely 1y agoAtleast in China they have to option to give CEO's the death penalty if they step out of line. I think silicon valley behaviour would be better if the CEO's had some skin in the game.
- itsoktocry 1y agoKills the CEOs, but don't punish actual criminals, very left-coded.
- jon-wood 1y agoAnd according to the right the CEOs need to be paid obscene amounts of money because they’re ultimately responsible for everything the company does. Can’t have it both ways.
- itsoktocry 1y agoMark Zuckerberg isn't paid obscene amounts of money by anyone, he is rich because he maintained ownership over something he built.
- polytely 1y agodon't worry, I also believe in prison for violent offenders, I just think that the more power you have the more serious punishment should get
- ath3nd 1y agoThe actual criminal here is the CEO. But of course very right-coded is to not care about child safety, since the right is the biggest perpetrator of child sex offences and don't mind associating with them. https://www.npr.org/2022/04/19/1093364807/republicans-confront-or-sidestep-abuse-accusations-against-midterm-candidates https://www.npr.org/2022/04/19/1093364807/republicans-confro... And the church the right is so fond of sure seems to have its own wiki page on child safety. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_sexual_abuse_cases https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_sexual_abuse_c... Of course Zuck, who's famous for ass kissing the orange stain that calls himself a president https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnGSYvEC-DQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnGSYvEC-DQ (and who LOOOVES his daughter a little bit too much https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EPEkk6qWkg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EPEkk6qWkg), would want to suppress child safety research, his benefactors demand it.
- everdrive 1y ago>Like, from technological point of view, these services are virtually solved, there's nothing much to do to improve them besides basic maintenance Revert the UI to how it looked 10 years ago, remove the recommendation algorithm, and probably a few other improvements would be quite welcome.
- novok 1y agoGovernment divisions ignore ethics & morality all the time if it's politically inconvenient, and what is even worse is since they are the government, they are immune from most criminal and civil prosecution! Using the PRC as a bastion of morality isn't good idea either. (watch as I get pro-PRC troll replies) Be careful what you wish for!
- this_user 1y ago> This makes me think that the Chinese model where a company beyond certain size simply becomes a branch of the government actually does have decent upsides Have you seen recent US governments?
- sleepybrett 1y agoI prefer the classic american approach. Smash them to pieces.