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Comment by zlagen | Hacker News Reader

this kind of surveillance is childish and a bit creepy too

These people are elected and paid more than enough to pay attention. If they can’t be bothered doing their job, we’ll elect someone else who can.

You don't know if they're doing their job from a photo. Perhaps they're replying to constituents, reading the details of the law they are being asked to vote on, checking with colleagues on the status of votes, etc. You don't know. It's just harassment without facts.

Well they can do that with paper.

They should have the details of the law printed out in front of them.

Scrolling through on a phone seems very limited.

They can write down notes and they can reply to constituents after they vote.

Yeah! We used to write code on paper too! Software engnieers should only use paper too!

All computer programs should also be printed and reviewed using punch cards!

A literal computer with arguably more features than a modern desktop is too limited!

This is a totally sane take! I know I like writing things twice, or using a format without any ability to search through it.

They are not programming. It's a bill that can be printed off and already is. Just make copies.

They are not editing it, they are reviewing it and making notes.

Laptop use is...fine, but I don't believe for a second they are reviewing the entire bill on their phone.

You don't take tests on your phone, nor should you legislate on your phone.

There is not a soul on this planet that attends meetings or talks regularly, and pays constant attention.

they do 10x worse on the general population.

Politicians, especially the high ranking ones, should have 100% transparent lives and be monitorised by independent organisation at all times, as they work for the benefit of the public

> Politicians, especially the high ranking ones, should have 100% transparent lives

For what purpose? What would you achieve by doing that?

100% surveillance would give you all of the backroom deals. The promises of executive positions in companies later on, if just this bill passes..

But, not practical. (I mean, it would also include bank account numbers, nuclear start codes, ..)

No one sensible would agree to live like this. You’d be left only with politicians who were in it for all the wrong reasons.

If that's the case maybe you should surveil the business people making the shady deals instead?

But no.. surveiling the dealings of multinational oil companies would be a totally bizarre intrusion into their privacy and the private property right of the owners... but extremely intrusive surveillance of public servants is fine and their just punishment for doing very demanding work for relatively low compensation.

Sounds completely brainwashed if you ask me. You need to recognize who your friends are.

If you think our economic system has this severely corrupting influence maybe we should consider doing something about that. You don't strike me as a stranger to radical reform.

Yup, raise compensation in return, but the price for power should be more transparency. But maybe not 100%. Even politicians should have the right for a private bedroom and maybe their families as well .. though it is of course of some public interest, with whom the politicians sleep at night.

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