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Request for Startups: News, Jobs, and Democracy

blog.ycombinator.com

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Re: Request for Startups: News, Jobs, and Democracy

#401

Post by wu-ikkyu »

notforgot wrote: post #303
wu-ikkyu wrote: post #146

The problem of "fake news" is the same as the age old Koan of truth vs. falsehood. Truth is subjective and relative to the time period and cultural mythologies, and is always changing. How can we even begin to solve this apparent problem if we can't even objectively define our variables, lest we become digital Don Quixotes?

"1 + 1 = 2" is true and objective for an infinite time period.

That's cool if you're trying to program a rudimentary calculator.

However, "Truth" in the sociological sense is not constrained to mathematics.

Re: Request for Startups: News, Jobs, and Democracy

#402

Post by specialist »

selimthegrim wrote: post #362
specialist wrote: post #267

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All worthy suggestions. TLDR: Replace current campaign managers, consultants, fund raisers, etc. Which I totally support. But how? Please ask candidates (past, present and future) about running for office. Better yet, run for office. See what it's like. I highly recommend the training from http://wellstone.org and http://democraticfuture.org . I'm sure there's others. Also, join some local campaigns and do the grunt…

I'd be interested in your opinion on this initiative: https://sites.tufts.edu/gerrymandr/

Just saw this. Belated response. Sorry.

Excellent link, thank you.

Redistricting is my #1 issue. I've been long

I'm slowly warming up to the idea of voter efficiency. It'd likely moot the geometric based techniques, like compactness.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasted_vote

http://election.princeton.edu/2016/11/24/a-lower-court-win-o...

http://gerrymander.princeton.edu

Politically, I work on local issues. We recently formed a local working group. So far we're researching and networking.

My personal policy goal is to have an open, transparent redistricting process. Regardless of the heuristics used. Modeled loosely on Iowa's system. Though I'm super partisan, all gerrymandering (disenfranchisement) makes me sick. I want to prevent scenarios like Ohio and Maryland.

I do not yet know how voter efficiency standards will change my plans, goals.

Re: Request for Startups: News, Jobs, and Democracy

#403

Post by specialist »

tptacek wrote: post #275
specialist wrote: post #267

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All worthy suggestions. TLDR: Replace current campaign managers, consultants, fund raisers, etc. Which I totally support. But how? Please ask candidates (past, present and future) about running for office. Better yet, run for office. See what it's like. I highly recommend the training from http://wellstone.org and http://democraticfuture.org . I'm sure there's others. Also, join some local campaigns and do the grunt…

I don't think the actual running is much of a technical problem. I think getting people to run is.

I could go on and on about this.

My direct observation is that (most) successful politicians are careerists. They started as pages, legislative assistants, etc. Makes perfect sense.

At the same time, most of the lowest rung (entry level) offices have a ridiculous number of candidates. Most first time candidates are walk-ons, having no idea how to play the game (me, for example). Most aspirants wash out after their first loss.

Re: Request for Startups: News, Jobs, and Democracy

#404

Post by DanBC »

There's some interesting ideas in this link, about people wrangling data to show information about Putin's information warfare.

I'd be intrigued to see these techniques of analysis applied to Trump and democrats.

http://index.hu/kulfold/2017/02/04/orban_is_a_tool_for_putin...

Re: Request for Startups: News, Jobs, and Democracy

#405

Post by milesrout »

conanbatt wrote: post #389
milesrout wrote: post #363

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They don't do that because they can't afford to do that. That's sad and unfortunate.

Or because its simply inefficient, and you must bear the price of doing it if you want it.

It's not inefficient. It's not efficient. It's got nothing to do with efficiency.

Re: Request for Startups: News, Jobs, and Democracy

#406

Post by conanbatt »

milesrout wrote: post #405
conanbatt wrote: post #389

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or because its simply inefficient, and you must bear the price of doing it if you want it.

It's not inefficient. It's not efficient. It's got nothing to do with efficiency.

? Of course it is. If every man and woman spent 18 years without producing anything at all to take care of their children, we would probably go extinct. Having 1 person take care of 10 at a time increases productivity by 19 people!

Of craouse we would all like to have the option to take as much time as we want to take care of our own, its akin to wanting to amass enough wealth to never have to work again.

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