[applfanboysbgon]

Are you seriously blind? Do you genuinely believe politicians don't legislate in ways that benefit corporations over individuals? Or do you genuinely believe the sudden worldwide push across dozens of countries to surveil all internet access, prevent VPN usage, and lock down devices at the OS level is the result of an organic, grassroots desire to protect children no matter the cost?

[Jtarii]

Politicians do things that are likely to get them reelected, e.g, passing legislation that is broadly supported by their voters. Passing legislation that their constituents do not like will not increase the chances of them getting reelected.

If you could link a piece of legislation that has little support among voters, but was passed due to corporate money, I would be interested.

[applfanboysbgon]

> cloak surveillance laws in "think of the children" to rally support from the masses

Politicians lie to voters to get them to accept things they would otherwise not accept. That was literally central to the entire comment you were replying to. "But the children" and "But national security" are essentially a free pass to enact any legislation a dishonest politician wants with support from a population that cannot stay fully informed on the nuances of the incredibly complex modern world.

> If you could link a piece of legislation that has little support among voters, but was passed due to corporate money, I would be interested.

I feel like I could gesture broadly at everything. As noted, people will support something when lied to, but even without public support it's obvious that this happens. Off the top of my head, Trump's corporate tax cuts in 2017 might be one of the most clearcut examples of something that benefitted corporations over individuals, was lobbied for by corporations, and was high profile enough to have public polling while being so blatantly unjustifiable that said polling demonstrated the public was clearly against it.

[Jtarii]

>Off the top of my head, Trump's corporate tax cuts in 2017 might be one of the most clearcut examples of something that benefitted corporations over individuals, was lobbied for by corporations, and was high profile enough to have public polling while being so blatantly unjustifiable that said polling demonstrated the public was clearly against it.

The 2017 tax cut law was extremely popular among republican voters, so I think that goes towards what I am saying.

[applfanboysbgon]

I suppose that was a bad example because Republican voters don't have a single policy they stand by, only party loyalty. eg. Republican voters were staunchly opposed to war in Iran until Trump did it and then support skyrocketed.

[Jtarii]

I agree that the US is in a strange place currently. The cult of personality Trump has hopefully goes away with him.