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A comment on US bans differential privacy in Census data. Parent comment

Re:US bans differential privacy in Census data by vjulian on Saturday June 13, 2026 @04:01PM (#48520860)
Many of us find voting insulting, given very low marginal power in a vote; it’s akin to throwing breadcrumbs to the poor. The structure of governance (the reality, not the mythology taught in schools or pushed forth as propaganda) is not in support of ‘the people”.

Right or wrong, this is how many of feel. Voting is silly and futile.

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Re:US bans differential privacy in Census data by vjulian on Saturday June 13, 2026 @04:38PM (#48521197)
Civics is a kind of religion, and it is difficult for people caught up in it to approach discussion from a logical and external perspective. This kind of civics is dangerous to society.
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Re:US bans differential privacy in Census data by Sabinus on Saturday June 13, 2026 @09:27PM (#48523289)
Conversely, I think civics where anonymous people tell you voting isn't effective and promote a kind of resentful powerless nihilism is dangerous to society.

Reform is preferable to revolution which is preferable to oppression.

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Re:US bans differential privacy in Census data by robotresearcher on Saturday June 13, 2026 @05:43PM (#48521789)
Ironically, the way to change this is by voting. One election at a time, we can trend towards the better or worse.
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Re:US bans differential privacy in Census data by LocalH on Saturday June 13, 2026 @08:22PM (#48522904)
We have to remove the power the current political duopoly has had for generations.

Fuck the Republicans. Fuck the Democrats. Rally behind a third-party candidate and blow up the establishment with your vote

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Re:US bans differential privacy in Census data by donkey_brains on Saturday June 13, 2026 @09:10PM (#48523197)
Hell yeah. And disregard anyone who says you’re “wasting your vote” or “splitting the vote”; they’re part of the problem and their defeatist thinking will get us nowhere.
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Re:US bans differential privacy in Census data by specialist on Saturday June 13, 2026 @07:00PM (#48522344)
Not voting is much more insulting, by far.

Edit: "civic religion" aha. Sorry, I should have guessed you were trolling. Can't wait to see what kind of revolution you cook up.

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Re:US bans differential privacy in Census data by lovich on Saturday June 13, 2026 @07:50PM (#48522650)
Civil religions and in particular an American Civil religion, are a real thing[1]. Not sure if that’s what the guy meant however.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_civil_religion

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Re:US bans differential privacy in Census data by specialist on Sunday June 14, 2026 @08:56AM (#48526789)
Huh. Thank you! I had no idea. Prior to your share, I would have lumped all that stuff into "culture formation".
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