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Zuckerberg could run Facebook while serving in government forever

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Re: Zuckerberg could run Facebook while serving in government forever

#71

Post by frenchy »

rhcom2 wrote: post #67
sharkweek wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Offering an anecdote with as little commentary as possible, but having gone to a small religious high school, I have friends who argue they'd "never vote for anyone who isn't Christian" but managed to do some mental gymnastics in order to vote for Romney, who during the primaries they seemed to oppose for being Mormon.

Now I feel ignorant, Mormonism doesn't count as a sect of Christianity?

There was a fair bit of established orthodox doctrine laid down between 100-400 CE. Christian groups that follow this are generally considered Christian by each by each other. Mormonism deviates significantly from orthodox doctrine, so it is considered a heretical sect by Christians.

For analogy, comparing Mormonism to Christianity is sort of like comparing Chrome to Konqueror.

Re: Zuckerberg could run Facebook while serving in government forever

#73

Post by dragonwriter »

rhcom2 wrote: post #67
sharkweek wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Offering an anecdote with as little commentary as possible, but having gone to a small religious high school, I have friends who argue they'd "never vote for anyone who isn't Christian" but managed to do some mental gymnastics in order to vote for Romney, who during the primaries they seemed to oppose for being Mormon.

Now I feel ignorant, Mormonism doesn't count as a sect of Christianity?

There's a fairly common standard among mainstream Christian groups as to what constitutes the boundary of Christianity formed by adherence to certain understandings of foundational doctrines (basically encapsulated into the common Nicene and Apostle's Creed's.)

This is generally held to exclude (as I recall), for different (though overlapping) reasons, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Unitarians, among others groups that describe themselves as Christian. (In contexts where the definition in question is being used, these and similarly situated groups may be referred to as "pseudo-Christian cults".)

This definition isn't consistently important outside of academic theological contexts within the body of mainstream Christianity, though, as lots of regular believers use either a much broader definition in daily conversation, or a narrower one that amounts to agreement with the particular religious beliefs of the individual in question.

Particularly, in US political contexts, political groups organized around politically conservative policies justified by appeals to Christianity have very often sought to appeal across traditional theological boundaries to reach politically-significant populations, and this is absolutely the case with trying to draw in LDS members; so, in terms of conservative political Christianity, Mormons are usually accepted, even if there is an academic theological standard which holds them as distinct from Christianity.

Re: Zuckerberg could run Facebook while serving in government forever

#74

Post by wahsd »

pmiller2 wrote: post #2

Why does this sound like the plot to a dystopian sci fi novel? Facebook's interests aren't anything close to my interests.

Considering how Facebook grew on the back of several fraudulent scheme to inflate their numbers in many different ways at different stages, I can't think of a worse entity to spawn a presidential candidate … maybe Plantir but they are already heavily involved in the game without the public knowing it, let alone what and how.

Re: Zuckerberg could run Facebook while serving in government forever

#75

Post by rhcom2 »

dragonwriter wrote: post #73
rhcom2 wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Now I feel ignorant, Mormonism doesn't count as a sect of Christianity?

There's a fairly common standard among mainstream Christian groups as to what constitutes the boundary of Christianity formed by adherence to certain understandings of foundational doctrines (basically encapsulated into the common Nicene and Apostle's Creed's.) This is generally held to exclude (as I recall), for different (though overlapping) reasons, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Unitari…

Thank you for the detailed response!

Re: Zuckerberg could run Facebook while serving in government forever

#76

Post by pmiller2 »

imgabe wrote: post #16
pmiller2 wrote: post #2

Why does this sound like the plot to a dystopian sci fi novel? Facebook's interests aren't anything close to my interests.

Then don't vote for Zuckerberg? Technically, if he were to be a representative or other elected government official, he would be obligated to uphold the interests of his constituents, not the company he owns, just like any other representative. Granted, it might be a concern that he would use his position to help his company, which is why officials usually have to put their assets in a blind trust. He would still hav…

Maybe I won't get the chance to vote for or against him. There are such things as appointed offices, some of which wield considerable power.

Re: Zuckerberg could run Facebook while serving in government forever

#77

Post by dragonwriter »

imgabe wrote: post #16
pmiller2 wrote: post #2

Why does this sound like the plot to a dystopian sci fi novel? Facebook's interests aren't anything close to my interests.

Then don't vote for Zuckerberg? Technically, if he were to be a representative or other elected government official, he would be obligated to uphold the interests of his constituents, not the company he owns, just like any other representative. Granted, it might be a concern that he would use his position to help his company, which is why officials usually have to put their assets in a blind trust. He would still hav…

> Technically, if he were to be a representative or other elected government official, he would be obligated to uphold the interests of his constituents, not the company he owns, just like any other representative.

No such obligation exists for most elected officials, though, of course, the perception of doing otherwise may make reelection less likely.

Re: Zuckerberg could run Facebook while serving in government forever

#78

Post by cglouch »

milcron wrote: post #70
CptJamesCook wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another way to describe Trump is that he ran a business that created more value than the S&P 500 (the top 500 businesses on US stock exchanges) over a 30 year period, created a world famous brand associated with quality and luxury, created a tv show that dominated ratings for a decade, and crushed two political dynasties that have held power for almost 40 years.

Wasn't that just the opposite? I thought the complaint was if Trump had merely taken the 'small loan of one million dollars' and invested it in the S&P500, he would have made more money. That is, he is worse at growing wealth than the stock market average.

I think the analysis that says that is somewhat misguided. Matt Levine (my go-to for financial stuff, his writing is insightful and accessible) wrote a good piece on it here https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2015-09-03/should-do...

Re: Zuckerberg could run Facebook while serving in government forever

#79

Post by kakwa_ »

pmiller2 wrote: post #2

Why does this sound like the plot to a dystopian sci fi novel? Facebook's interests aren't anything close to my interests.

I could not agree more.

I found the near deification of Internet/Tech entrepreneurs, like Musk, Zuckerberg and others deeply annoying at best.

Selling the idea they could be the providential leaders we "need", and that they could solve every single issue of our (quite complex) societies, is just disturbing...

Not to mention the latent conflicts of interest which can occur...

Re: Zuckerberg could run Facebook while serving in government forever

#80

Post by bogomipz »

rokosbasilisk wrote: post #8

Politics and tech mixing sounds bad for global shared tech. Seems like tech or internet balkanization is coming fast.

>"Seems like tech or internet balkanization is coming fast."

I don't think you concerns about balkanization are unfounded by I'm curious why you have that concern in the context of this specific story. Can you elaborate?

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