4 ms·

Why would a government elected in a democracy be less trustworthy than a few private individuals? Do heads of large corporations not have an interest in control

Why would a government elected in a democracy be less trustworthy than a few private individuals? Do heads of large corporations not have an interest in controlling information?

raw_anon_1111 8mo ago
Why are you acting like this is something hypothetical? The Trump administration just cut funding for both NPR and PBS because they are “too woke” The same government who threatened to take ABC broadcast license because Kimmel made a joke about a dead podcaster
- gpm 8mo ago
  You're making the counter argument. Government funded media may be cut or controlled in times of (wannabe) dictators, but the same applies to privately funded media (see Kimmel, Colbert, CBS, Washington Post, etc)
  - raw_anon_1111 8mo ago
    So if the government controls the media - who is going to hold the government accountable? And then there is that entire “free press” thing in the constitution. And Disney quickly recanted as soon as people started canceling, even the conservative owned local affiliates had to back down.
- Eisenstein 8mo ago
  And I would argue that they have been able to do this because a small group of private individuals control the information networks and either desired that purpose or are ambivalent to their cause in it. The potential failure of the system because of the effect of the wrong choice in this matter is evidence in favor of my argument, not against it.
  - raw_anon_1111 8mo ago
    I’m continuously astounded by people who want to give the government more power seeing the current state of the US government.
    - Eisenstein 8mo ago
      You aren't amazed at how people advocating for privatizing things that are supposed to be for the public good keep doubling down when it doesn't work out? We couldn't be in the place we are if it weren't for those who constantly yelled 'smaller government!' while dismantling all features of accountability and balance of power in order to achieve that end.
      - raw_anon_1111 8mo ago
        Well the difference is that a private company doesn’t have a full army, masked jack booted thugs who shoot people with abandon with “qualified immunity” and the legal right of force to take away my property without a trial (civil forfeiture) or prosecute me because they don’t like me (see the current administration). They also can’t stop me because I don’t “look like I belong” in my neighborhood (true story). I’d rather not give the government any more power.
        Eisenstein 8mo ago
        But everyone has been listening to your argument and doing what you are advocating for since Reagan and yet here we are. Have you every thought about the fact that power doesn't just disappear? Someone is going to have control over the jackbooted thugs. Claiming democratic norms and public control over them is bad just ensures that they become the tools of a few people without any way to constrain them. I'm sorry you had a bad experience and that we are currently having one as a country, but the solution is to push for more democracy, not more privatization.
        raw_anon_1111 8mo ago

Why would a government elected in a democracy be less trustworthy than a few private individuals? Do heads of large corporations not have an interest in controlling information?

raw_anon_1111 8mo ago

Why are you acting like this is something hypothetical? The Trump administration just cut funding for both NPR and PBS because they are “too woke” The same government who threatened to take ABC broadcast license because Kimmel made a joke about a dead podcaster

gpm 8mo ago
You're making the counter argument. Government funded media may be cut or controlled in times of (wannabe) dictators, but the same applies to privately funded media (see Kimmel, Colbert, CBS, Washington Post, etc)
- raw_anon_1111 8mo ago
  So if the government controls the media - who is going to hold the government accountable? And then there is that entire “free press” thing in the constitution. And Disney quickly recanted as soon as people started canceling, even the conservative owned local affiliates had to back down.
Eisenstein 8mo ago
And I would argue that they have been able to do this because a small group of private individuals control the information networks and either desired that purpose or are ambivalent to their cause in it. The potential failure of the system because of the effect of the wrong choice in this matter is evidence in favor of my argument, not against it.
- raw_anon_1111 8mo ago
  I’m continuously astounded by people who want to give the government more power seeing the current state of the US government.
  - Eisenstein 8mo ago
    You aren't amazed at how people advocating for privatizing things that are supposed to be for the public good keep doubling down when it doesn't work out? We couldn't be in the place we are if it weren't for those who constantly yelled 'smaller government!' while dismantling all features of accountability and balance of power in order to achieve that end.
    - raw_anon_1111 8mo ago
      Well the difference is that a private company doesn’t have a full army, masked jack booted thugs who shoot people with abandon with “qualified immunity” and the legal right of force to take away my property without a trial (civil forfeiture) or prosecute me because they don’t like me (see the current administration). They also can’t stop me because I don’t “look like I belong” in my neighborhood (true story). I’d rather not give the government any more power.
      - Eisenstein 8mo ago
        But everyone has been listening to your argument and doing what you are advocating for since Reagan and yet here we are. Have you every thought about the fact that power doesn't just disappear? Someone is going to have control over the jackbooted thugs. Claiming democratic norms and public control over them is bad just ensures that they become the tools of a few people without any way to constrain them. I'm sorry you had a bad experience and that we are currently having one as a country, but the solution is to push for more democracy, not more privatization.
        raw_anon_1111 8mo ago