Why was this flagged?
Off-Topic: Most stories about politics
If they'd cover it on TV news, it's probably off-topic.
Personally, I come to HN to read tech (and some tech-adjacent) news. There are plenty of other places to discuss things considered "off-topic" for HN.
Once such place is the "Culture War" threads in https://www.themotte.org/ - but they do demand more level-headedness than what we typically see here on political submissions on HN (especially involving Trump or Musk).
"Could you guys be silent please? I am reading about this interesting Python library"
The right-thinking busybodies who want to make EVERYTHING about politics and the current thing.
Believe me, we know where to find or to talk about politics. There's no shortage of places.
Trying to ram it into a site made for, yes, reading about python libraries just makes me loathe you more. And it's entertaining to watch people I loathe shit bricks, even if I also loathe the other side.
Which means you do not have a modicum of understanding. Your appalling behavior is to turn it into a stupid culture war. I don't shit bricks my friend. The people that understand things better than you do are raising the alarm, precisely to get decadent and selfish asses like you to pay attention. For your own good.
You are reminded that democracy is not a fringe issue to be compartmentalized, to be redirected to places for people interested in democracy. Yes, it is in your face as it means that there might be 2 or 3 topics out of 30 about the collapse of the largest democracy.
"I am not political" is exactly what an average Russian answers about even the most simple questions. Democracy does not survive indifference.
And if you don't like that democracy flows through all aspects of society, then enjoy the fake elections. You will never have to think about it. But still you can have a chuckle about those who did.
First to clear the misconceptions, (1) I am political, in fact I wish I was less so! I just disagree with you. I hate both parties with passion, (2) democracy has nothing to do with bureaucracy/regulation ratchet. And in any case classical liberalism is more important. I think everything even remotely based on the absurd Wickard decision, from war on drugs to medicare, ought to be abolished, hence I am ambivalent about using grey area methods to wreck agencies, I wish it was done cleaner but that seems impossible, (3) as an average former Russian familiar with its history, I hate nothing more than someone doing things for my own good. Between a thief and a true believer, I'll always choose the thief. Even early vs late Putin is a case in point
Now, the main point. I can read / discuss my political stuff elsewhere.
People like you cannot make a distinction between caring about politics, and making everything about politics. I view you as different in degree only from the ranting lady that got shot during the capitol insurrection.
After reading me some politics, I come here to read about python libraries. Get a life.
The fact that you call this "bureaucracy/regulation ratchet" means that we need more submissions like these on the front page.
I feel sorry for your background, and you have a bit more of an excuse than an average American for having twisted beliefs about personal responsibilities. That system weeds out any people that want to do good. They are ridiculed even or actively worked against. Because no one can be good, and someone who tries is an hypocrite. That stuff is toxic, you choose thieves.
The main point is not about you and your wishes of not confronting reality, because you clearly have a lot of homework to do. As I reminded, democracy is an effort by the people for the people. It should be defended on every platform, in every law, in every school, on every forum. Decadence is for autocracy.
Imagine someone who is earnestly sure that they did their homework and that it is you who is wrong (e.g an enthusiastic maga supporter) doing this to you, and you'll know exactly how you come across.
And how it makes one feel about whatever you are selling.
Nope, I don't say that. The HN people did vote on a topic they found important, and it organically came on top. That means that, yes, there is 1 out of 30 topics on front that you might want to skip because you consider yourself informed. There is no way we are chasing you. Victim play.
The way you react shows how effective the toolbox is of those that are currently dismantling democracy. Don't take it personally, we are all targets. It has costed me personally quite some time and reading to understand how the dynamics work, and how our culture has been prepared to tolerate the nonsense. Victim play ("that transgender hurts me"), disinformation, spreading contradicting messages so media is able and will relay confusing info without putting it in a broader context under the guise of "neutrality" and so that the populace can pick the lie they find most convenient, weeding out dangerous people (experts), sado-populism ("look, that immigrant both steals multiple jobs and simultaneously only collect benefits"), etc.
They depend on you to give consent. You can read the other topics.
Anyway, you keep missing the point. You keep giving me political arguments, some I might even agree with. You think that the key difference between you and my example is that you are right and they're wrong. Surprise, so do they! I think there's no difference. You are just like a guy posting Breitbart "revelations" into a knitting reddit. It doesn't matter if some of the knitters happen like them. Please go away.
But I can and do read about the pressing issues of the day through a variety of media, most commonly the Economist, the LA times, and various substacks. On the other hand, I more or less have no other outlets—besides HN—to read about software engineering.
Who told you? Why do you setup a false dichotomy for yourself?
If you cannot handle reality, choose one of the other tens of topics.
Content on social networks is suppressed, eg pro-Ukraine voices has been silenced for a long time now on Twitter. Then suddenly problems with tags on other social networks. Content disappears. Bezos sinks on his knees to save his enterprises.
It has been an enormous project, with many not knowing they worked for it.
It is not insane to imagine that the most influential forum on tech incubation, the breeding ground, is actively being undermined to reach a political and moral understanding of issues that might result in a counter movement.
There can be a group of some genuinely brainwashed people that take this as their identity, sure, but then still. All it tells is that the social system here is politically exploited. Don't tell me that side would absolutely not do that.
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