Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Gov Parson pushes to prosecute reporter who found security flaw in state site

missouriindependent.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 564 posts

Re: Gov Parson pushes to prosecute reporter who found security flaw in state site

#31

Post by intunderflow »

Acutulus wrote: post #7

I find the article title kind of curious, given that it states Parson has "doubled down" which suggests that the video the article references is an active effort on Parson's part. It then goes on to state that the video was produced by a PAC Parson created but doesn't give direct input to. Comes off as unnecessarily inflammatory to me I suppose. Having said that, this situation in particular really tests my willingne…

> This situation in particular really tests my willingness to assume good faith on the part of the governor and his body of advisors

I think by this point it's very clear he's acting in bad-faith to try and cover himself from the fallout.

Re: Gov Parson pushes to prosecute reporter who found security flaw in state site

#32

Post by mdp2021 »

Bhilai wrote: post #3

Here is a potentially dumb idea: Before someone can declare candidacy for a public office, they should pass an exam that tests them on general and basic knowledge on a wide variety of topics that proves that the person has some level of general awareness of tech that is so ubiquitous.

You have forgotten to propose to test for morals, dignity and mental health. Because the matter and issue, in the specific case, is not with "notions".

Edit: I don't even know why for some reason I forgot (probably because it comes without saying): basic wits.

And, seeing that somebody really calls is an "odd idea": no, there absolutely should be requirements. Getting the appropriate measurements, reliably and feasibly, that is difficult. Yet, still duly. Duty, in the same intensity that suggests that thing holding office should be flung into space.

Re: Gov Parson pushes to prosecute reporter who found security flaw in state site

#33

Post by cryptoz »

Acutulus wrote: post #7

I find the article title kind of curious, given that it states Parson has "doubled down" which suggests that the video the article references is an active effort on Parson's part. It then goes on to state that the video was produced by a PAC Parson created but doesn't give direct input to. Comes off as unnecessarily inflammatory to me I suppose. Having said that, this situation in particular really tests my willingne…

> But I'm at a loss as to how this situation could blossom into something so ridiculous.

This is one of the least ridiculous things Republicans have done in the last few years.

Re: Gov Parson pushes to prosecute reporter who found security flaw in state site

#34

Post by SamReidHughes »

Bhilai wrote: post #3

Here is a potentially dumb idea: Before someone can declare candidacy for a public office, they should pass an exam that tests them on general and basic knowledge on a wide variety of topics that proves that the person has some level of general awareness of tech that is so ubiquitous.

Such a person that could pass would be so unusual, he'd be very out of touch with the general population.

Re: Gov Parson pushes to prosecute reporter who found security flaw in state site

#35

Post by ethbr0 »

Someone1234 wrote: post #24
Bhilai wrote: post #3

Here is a potentially dumb idea: Before someone can declare candidacy for a public office, they should pass an exam that tests them on general and basic knowledge on a wide variety of topics that proves that the person has some level of general awareness of tech that is so ubiquitous.

Who gets to set the test? This is a well-intentioned but very wrong-headed idea. History is littered with examples of how these things are abused. It is up to voters to evaluate their chosen candidates for their qualities and qualifications for the job. The biggest problem right now is that too many vote on party lines instead of for candidates based on their qualities.

History is littered with examples of eugenics programs, but that doesn't mean we should ban genetic testing.

Re: Gov Parson pushes to prosecute reporter who found security flaw in state site

#36

Post by breckenedge »

dreyfan wrote: post #17

The US is so completely and utterly fucked I think it's beyond redemption at this point.

I agree this is a problem, but there are also problems everywhere. The US doesn’t have a monopoly on stupid. We’ve lasted through dumb, inept government before.

Re: Gov Parson pushes to prosecute reporter who found security flaw in state site

#37

Post by ClumsyPilot »

Acutulus wrote: post #7

I find the article title kind of curious, given that it states Parson has "doubled down" which suggests that the video the article references is an active effort on Parson's part. It then goes on to state that the video was produced by a PAC Parson created but doesn't give direct input to. Comes off as unnecessarily inflammatory to me I suppose. Having said that, this situation in particular really tests my willingne…

Damn, how could such prosecution actually go ahead, this sound like tinpot dictatorship news

Re: Gov Parson pushes to prosecute reporter who found security flaw in state site

#38

Post by pianoben »

Acutulus wrote: post #7

I find the article title kind of curious, given that it states Parson has "doubled down" which suggests that the video the article references is an active effort on Parson's part. It then goes on to state that the video was produced by a PAC Parson created but doesn't give direct input to. Comes off as unnecessarily inflammatory to me I suppose. Having said that, this situation in particular really tests my willingne…

The background with Parson is that he is overtly hostile to the "blue" cities of St. Louis and Kansas City, and favors the more rural parts of the state. He has an especially hostile relationship with the press in those cities.

It doesn't surprise me that he'd want to make hay with this - he can promote himself, damage his political enemies, and look tough to his base, which (generally speaking) doesn't consist of professional technologists.

(if you want evidence of his antipathy to Missouri's cities, look no further than covid vaccine distribution - St. Louis had maybe one single site, but rural areas had more vaccines than they could use. My elderly parents had to drive for hours to get to one of those underused sites because there simply weren't any vaccines to be found in the metro area.)

Re: Gov Parson pushes to prosecute reporter who found security flaw in state site

#39

Post by [deleted] »

Acutulus wrote: post #7

I find the article title kind of curious, given that it states Parson has "doubled down" which suggests that the video the article references is an active effort on Parson's part. It then goes on to state that the video was produced by a PAC Parson created but doesn't give direct input to. Comes off as unnecessarily inflammatory to me I suppose. Having said that, this situation in particular really tests my willingne…

[deleted]

Re: Gov Parson pushes to prosecute reporter who found security flaw in state site

#40

Post by elliekelly »

erulabs wrote: post #4

It's a strange and very Double-Speak response to frame this as a political attack by the newspaper who found the flaw - and in particular the individual journalist. The idea that a journalist is "attacking" by finding an issue worth bringing up _must_ be cognitive dissonance, right? Otherwise all investigation would be a form of assault? Either someone with an IQ below 80 became governor or this is purely a strategic…

It also has a chilling effect on journalism (and free speech generally). Even the threat of prosecution for a non-crime serves to discourage others from publicly discussing his administration’s errors.

This situation is arguably the reason we have the first amendment: so the government can’t bully you into silence and submission when you’ve embarrassed them. When they’ve embarrassed themselves, really.

Post reply on HN