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A comment on California is the only state to hide its spending – nearly $300B a year. Parent comment

Re:California is the only state to hide its spending – nearl... by Guvante on Sunday December 12, 2021 @11:04AM (#29530688)
There is a difference between having an opinion and lobbying.
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Re:California is the only state to hide its spending – nearl... by caminante on Sunday December 12, 2021 @01:42PM (#29532296)
Why are you making this vague distinction instead of addressing the actual conclusion (on topic)?

> Suggesting [x], is ridiculous and sets a dangerous precedent.

The root parent shared a values-based opinion with no objective support.

Your parent asked for an explanation of the circular conclusion.

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Re:California is the only state to hide its spending – nearl... by Guvante on Sunday December 12, 2021 @03:26PM (#29533260)
The only thing of substance in the parent was "opinions aren't dangerous".

Since that isn't accurate (lobbying can be dangerous) there wasn't anything substantial to respond to.

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Re:California is the only state to hide its spending – nearl... by RHSeeger on Sunday December 12, 2021 @04:00PM (#29533559)
- Opinions aren't dangerous

- Lobbying can be dangerous

Those two things are orthogonal. Lobbying is not "an opinion". Lobbying is an attempt to influence the actions, policies, or decisions of government officials. An opinion is just what someone thinks about someone. It is possible to lobby your government official to get them to support your position, but that doesn't make them the same thing.

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Re:California is the only state to hide its spending – nearl... by caminante on Sunday December 12, 2021 @05:33PM (#29534379)
> "opinions aren't dangerous" [...] Since that isn't accurate [...]

At face value, it really sounds like you're accusing people of thought-crimes for having an opinion (e.g. firefighters are overpaid/underpaid/fairly-paid).

> (lobbying can be dangerous)

And if you think that firefighters are underpaid, then couldn't lobbying (i.e. firefighter unions) possibly produce "good" outcomes? Can someone call that outcome dangerous? This really boils down to you making a value judgment AGAINST lowering firefighter pay. That's what the grandparent comment said and other commenters asked for the reasoning.

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Re:California is the only state to hide its spending – nearl... by specialist on Sunday December 12, 2021 @10:17PM (#29536211)
An expressed opinion is lobbying.
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