Facebook and "social" media
I'm sorry if I might be putting this comment in the wrong place (claiming ignorance). I'm sure others have noticed what I did and may have already pointed it out, but...ignorace again.
A few week ago I began posting on our local rag...actually an outlet for the gop in Indiana. I guess espousing liberal views in opposition to the gop admin isn't accepted very well around here. Here's what I just posted to my facebook account.
"Later today I will be terminating (as much as possible) my FB acct. If my political views and comments have caused any problems for anyone, I am very sorry. I didn't realize how the ignorati exploit the FB system. I noticed that my problems with the star started right after I pointed out that the Indiana Policy Review (started by Pence) has been sending LTEs pushing his position. I guess voicing liberal ideas is a big no-no, especially when they can be justified.
Jimmy asked about the NSA and privacy. I trust the NSA with my personal info much more than FB. The Privacy Act is directed at people who divulge your stuff. FB, OTOH, encourages you to show personal stuff and makes it visible to the world if you aren't very careful. It errs to the divulge side.
I'd gotten some nasty messages from those who disagree with my positions, not based on those positions, but personal. I'm glad now that I didn't show any personal info, like my name and DOB. BTW, that reluctance is what was used against me to remove me from the star. In order to reactivate I have to go to FB with a picture of my ID. As if. Especially since there's no way that guarantees a react on the star.
What makes all this so much worse is that so many public forums have started using FB for their postings. It makes it easier because they don't need staff for admin but it then allows a spotlight to be shined on anyone who might disagree with the party line. Just like long ago during the labor movements where the guy who could be identified was targetted. I noticed that so many forums have taken up that right wing argument...the one that says you should stand behind your position.
We have laws in this country to protect us from our gov't. We have no such laws to protect us from "private" gov'ts.
Take care...there're some real nasty, ignorant people out there"
And here are a couple of sample comments, the first to a article about Pence pushing for Bein to relocate to Indiana (http://www.indystar.com/story/money/2013/12/15/gov-pence-indiana-vying-for-boeing-airplane-facility/4033217/):
"While I applaud any opportunity to bring good, well-paying jobs to Indiana, let's pretend for a minute that Pence is giving our taxpayer dollars to a private company to buy jobs for us. But you see, that's not pretend. That's reality.
Now let's look at the issue. Right now Boeing is in negotiations with WA to see what kind of concessions (tax-free operations) they can get. It's not going well for them. WA close to saying...if you're not going to contribute to pay for our infrastructure, maybe we might be better off you don't contribute somewhere else.
Second point. Boeing got the same deal some years ago in SC. SC jumped all over the opportunity and gave them all kinds of stuff...including free job training. But that deal just might be running out. Kinda like when Comcast says you incentive just ended and your rate just went up $30/month. Difference between us and Comcast and Boeing and SC is that they aren't dealing with a monopoly. They can have the "right-to-work" states bid against each other.
BTW, this corporate relocation tactic is being used all over. Even here...
Ok, last point. From Pence's viewpoint it's a win-win. He gets to point to all these jobs he created (bought - with our money) and help him get reelected.
When the free incentive period ends and Boeing leaves us another empty factory, Pence will be running for Pres.
Sorry I couldn't fit it on a bumper sticker. I'm aware of the attention deficit."
and one about the economic benefits of early education (http://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/readers/conversations/2013/12/13/economic-benefits-of-preschool-are-clear/4016929/):
"Wow, 2 different editorials from the Policy network that hit right at the same time and both pushing the Pence agenda.
In 2008 Pence said, "I was part of, what we called the seed corn Heritage Foundation was spreading around the country in the state think tank movement. We actually called our little foundation in Indiana the Indiana Policy Review Foundation, very much as a homage to Policy Review Magazine of Heritage, and we modeled on the state level what Heritage had done before."
Go figure.
But as I pointed out in another propaganda LTE, the question isn't whether a good pre-school environment is beneficial. We know it is. That is a given.
The question is: What is the best way to spread our very limited taxpayer dollars to benefit the most in need and in the best way possible.
Vouchers for a few? I think not."
If you follow those links you won't see the comments.