Hiring! We're saving democracy. Can your mint-for-groupon startup say that? • Hacker News Board

Re: Hiring! We're saving democracy. Can your mint-for-groupon startup say that?

#21

Post by cheez » Sat, Apr 16, 2011, 2:16 PM UTC

evangineer wrote: post #19

cheez wrote: post #18

Man, I wish I knew someone there. The only reason I want to make a few million dollars is to save the future by fixing this broken system. That and all-you-can-eat-pizza. Awesome slides, they know how to sell, that's for sure! Are they actually planning on making money from this somehow? I went through a business plan with some others on an idea just like this and we did figure a way to make money but it was a long s…

I did look at another Votizen slidedeck (sorry don't have the link to hand) and they tested a number of different business models (they are serious about using lean startup methodology) and eventually arrived at campaign management as one that actually generated revenue for them.

That's part of the one I figured. Good to know.

Re: Hiring! We're saving democracy. Can your mint-for-groupon startup say that?

#22

Post by tompetty » Sat, Apr 16, 2011, 3:59 PM UTC

"Even our designers have CS degrees"

Just wondering if that's always a selling point? I'm not questioning the unrivalled design talent on offer here, but what about designers with design degrees (and relevant experience)?

Genuinely curious and not trying to be facetious / generalising.

Re: Hiring! We're saving democracy. Can your mint-for-groupon startup say that?

#23

Post by jemond » Sat, Apr 16, 2011, 4:24 PM UTC

lusis wrote: post #17

jemond wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To clarify, we are not a federal republic or a democracy. ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_College_%28United_Sta...

Forgive me for accepting something other than Wikipedia as asource of truth: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/... I left off the constitutional part.

The point is people don't understand this. You have never voted for president, I have never voted, your mom has never voted. You cast a non-binding recommendation on election day. There is no difference between casting a ballot for president and not casting a ballot. It is the same thing.

Re: Hiring! We're saving democracy. Can your mint-for-groupon startup say that?

#24

Post by lusis » Mon, Apr 18, 2011, 4:07 AM UTC

jemond wrote: post #23

lusis wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Forgive me for accepting something other than Wikipedia as asource of truth: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/... I left off the constitutional part.

The point is people don't understand this. You have never voted for president, I have never voted, your mom has never voted. You cast a non-binding recommendation on election day. There is no difference between casting a ballot for president and not casting a ballot. It is the same thing.

The electoral college ONLY applies to the president. The president can't (despite best efforts) unilaterally make laws. The role of president has very little legislative power (IMHO) as it should be.

The fact that people blindly use the word "democracy" (something that the founding fathers warned against) and attempt to "spread" it in other countries only highlights the need for better education.

We are under a rule of law, not a rule of mob:

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch." - Benjamin Franklin.