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Comment by Pelam | Hacker News Reader

Some of this is valid concerns, but a strong vibe of ”anti democracy” in there too. Government is a direct extension of interests and will of the people (at least it should be.)

In this vein the EU privacy regulations at least reflect an opposing force to the worst concerns mentioned.

If collective regulation by elected officials is used to drive down society’s resource consumption or protect public health and it is implemented fairly and not invading _too much_ on other primary concerns (like privacy and protection from unfair litigation) I’m not sure we should be so alarmed about stuff like this (compared to Mad Max / Water World future threatening our children at least.)

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> a strong vibe of ”anti democracy” in there too

This is blatantly false, and calling the opinion to limit the power of government "anti democracy" is pure authoritarian Orwellian doublespeak.

> Government is a direct extension of interests and will of the people (at least it should be.)

This is definitely false in America.

The American government hasn't been a "direct extension of interests and will of the people" in multiple decades, if not half a century, and won't be until the regulatory capture, rampant monopolies, anticompetitive behavior, two-party system, bribery disguised as lobbying, and disproportionate representation of special interest groups all end.

Until then, limiting the power of government is the only sane course of action.

Yeah, I put the "anti democracy" in quotes bc I wasn't quite sure. I'm looking for a term for this sentiment. Any suggestions?

I'm not sure libertarianism, conservativity or "right wing" hit the mark either. It is a strong sentiment anyway.

Perhaps "anti democracy" fits better when the thinking in question gets exported and adapted to this side of the pond.

Here most governments are mostly relatively functional, representative and quite a bit more socialistic too. Here the thinking I'm referring to tends to manifest as distrust of government and media, skipping voting or giving "protest votes" to strange fringe parties all contributing to the erosion of the said strong and representative government.

I was also a little bit thinking about USA when I added the "at least it should be". I can see the point better in that situation, though I can't completely agree. I would add erosion of public education to the list of things to get rid of btw.

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