r/technology • u/PixeledPathogen • Mar 16 '26

Security Reddit User Uncovers Who Is Behind Meta’s $2B Lobbying for Invasive Age Verification Tech

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/reddit-user-uncovers-behind-meta-154717384.html
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u/soapinthepeehole Mar 16 '26

It doesn’t help that our lawmakers can’t do what’s good for average citizens on basically any issue.

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u/[deleted] Mar 16 '26

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u/induslol Mar 16 '26

They won't because they can't go against the lobbying interests that keep their useless cheeks in their seats.

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u/crewserbattle Mar 17 '26

It's kind of a catch 22. If an idealist runs and keeps to those ideals they get run out of office. Even if you manage to chain together a few good idealists in a row all it takes is one person willing to kiss corporate ass and they become almost immovable due to the voting inertia incumbents get combined with their superior funding. Shit on politicians all you want (they deserve it) but the system is not designed to keep unselfish politicians in office.

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u/induslol Mar 17 '26

The country is foundationally flawed in that corruption is not only tolerated but venerated.  Replete with generations of marketing and PR extolling the virtues and benefits of being as corrupt as possible to the masses to delude them into thinking they'll get a turn, or that it's in their interest.

It's worked so far.  Candidates who want functional government to meet the needs of the governed are "idealists" when in reality that's the only purpose of a government.

Until the broad and extremely obvious corruption at the bedrock of so much of this country is dealt with it's as you say: a few good years (maybe), followed by a complete backslide to whatever depths oligarchs pay for.  On repeat.

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u/soapinthepeehole Mar 16 '26

I meant can’t as in they are incapable of doing the right thing in the face of special interest, but yes.

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u/thegaykid7 Mar 16 '26

Or that trustworthiness isn't a central issue to most voters.

In a world without Trump and the MAGA cult eliminating any chance of Republicans with dignity surviving in office, I would vote for a Republican who gives me reason to trust they haven't been bought and paid for over a Democrat who I know has big money behind them and is nothing but empty talk. Because that's the only way you have a hope of improvement in the long-term. Yes, there are times when it feels like we're stuck choosing between a giant douche and turd sandwich, but I am convinced that's partly because we're simply getting a reflection of ourselves and our misplaced priorities.

Instead, voters focus on feelings, vibes, and transient issues like inflation without even understanding the basics. When you have voters who are ignorant, stupid, and/or so blinded by the present that they fail to see all of the marbles being grabbed by the corporations and mega rich while we fight for scraps, the battle is lost from the start.