Hacker Read

srean · 2013-07-28 02:34:53+00:00

That in the hands of an eager government there would be no Turing, no civil rights movement, nor speeches that go "I have a dream". The problem is that many in US heartland will consider these to be a good thing.

EDIT: could someone please upvote mkmkmmmmm. I think I managed to downvote his comment when trying to confirm it.

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moocowtruck | karma -11 | avg karma -0.02 · | 2018-06-20 02:30:44+00:00

i don't think we should assume it would be good for the country or community

some_random | karma 3348 | avg karma 4.07 · | 2023-12-14 14:43:44

I'm surprised by how little discussion there's been of this seeing as it, at least to me, is just objectively a bad thing for the nation.

kyawzazaw | karma 917 | avg karma 1.06 · | 2020-10-05 13:32:17+00:00

> no useful public transporation

it's united states overall, so it doesn't really matter.

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Spearchucker | karma 3208 | avg karma 2.74 · | 2014-03-21 00:23:37

"...but it takes place far away and the benefits are difficult to see..."

This worries me. It's like saying that because the people affected aren't here, in America, it's not worth doing.

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jMyles | karma 7191 | avg karma 2.32 · | 2020-01-29 08:27:31+00:00

I find that context unimportant and the thrust of the headline to be true and worth considering.

Even if only for a relatively small region, this government blocked access to information and communications.

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pluma | karma 7253 | avg karma 2.22 · | 2014-09-16 08:32:23+00:00

True. I'm not sure what it will take for the general public to accept this. At least the politicians don't seem to intend to tell them any time soon.

silveraxe93 | karma 434 | avg karma 4.3 · | 2020-06-08 10:32:08

His point is that plans like this are generated regardless of the current state of the country, therefore it says nothing about how polarised or at risk of rebellion America is today.

reroute1 | karma -15 | avg karma -0.05 · | 2019-08-08 16:16:14+00:00

"No country is going to do what it takes"

That's not being realistic. That is decidedly pessimistic and something that no one could say at this time.

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SixSigma | karma 2825 | avg karma 1.05 · | 2014-07-22 21:25:54+00:00

I don't disagree with that but that makes "nobody wants this" even less likely, they have to know about it first.

arwhatever | karma 1104 | avg karma 2.87 · | 2021-08-10 14:44:12

I was hopeful, perhaps naively, that sending some knowledge workers into the rural regions of our country (U.S.) might help to alleviate both the cultural and economic divides that plague our society.

But I guess Google & others don't care.

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steveklabnik | karma 91260 | avg karma 5.08 · | 2020-01-10 11:44:34

I don't think that helps accomplish one of the main goals of this effort, which is to demonstrate independence.

crististm | karma 1028 | avg karma 1.03 · | 2015-04-17 19:15:50

It seems you guys forgot about "home of the brave" part.

It looks like the US nation is out of tune with its foundations.

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spaetzleesser | karma 5660 | avg karma 2.82 · | 2022-03-19 19:42:32

"- The US is also not very interested in trying to learn from what construction techniques, etc. have worked for public transit in other countries"

That would also apply to other areas like health care. Exceptionalism is not a good thing to improve yourself.

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h2odragon | karma 15145 | avg karma 2.39 · | 2024-03-24 17:17:11

> network of influence

I cannot see how the "public/private partnership" programs, here or anywhere else, are not going to be focused on spreading that network. Perhaps I'm unduly pessimistic.

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jerojero | karma 1365 | avg karma 2.22 · | 2023-04-29 21:03:38

I fail to see how this will be a win for "the public".

cwbrandsma | karma 1238 | avg karma 3.16 · | 2016-09-02 15:54:53

That is no match for the general population's apathy. Seriously, "you can lead a horse to water" applies pretty strongly here.

surajrmal | karma 1027 | avg karma 2.49 · | 2024-06-14 02:30:16

I understand why people feel this way given the lack of public communication, but I'd like to put it out there that this isn't true.

frozenport | karma 2997 | avg karma 1.05 · | 2019-07-01 18:40:41+00:00

US doesn't have any succesionist movement, that brings a thirds of the country outside.

noobermin | karma 14622 | avg karma 3.06 · | 2022-06-02 08:54:05

That is a pretty disappointing situation for a country that is known for being "progressive."