In general governments aren't exposed to the same criticisms as corporations, or held to the same standards, except when their actions directly impact IT and online rights (DRM, surveillance/security policies, and such.)
I don't think that's an accurate statement to make about HN. There are some high-karma users who seem to be very pro-government, and there's no doubt some astroturfing going on. But there is also a vocal population of people who want to see governments act in their people's interests and be accountable for their actions. It just so happens that, as an IT-focused community, HN talks about the IT aspects of government a lot more often.
But there is also a vocal population of people who want to see governments act in their people's interests
The problem is, it's becoming increasingly apparent (to me, at least) that this is motivation is not only ill-defined, but inherently self-contradictory. Those people are not going to get what they say they want, because it doesn't exist. Government is the ultimate zero-sum game: anything they give to someone, they have to take from someone else.
Ultimately, the only rational conclusion I've been able to reach is that the best government is the smallest one. Around here, saying so often gets one downmodded.
Ultimately, the only rational conclusion I've been able to reach is that the best government is the smallest one. Around here, saying so often gets one downmodded.
It could be because small government advocacy is often associated with dogmatic irrationality. Maybe there's a way to reword rational small-government arguments to make it more clear they have a rational, rather than dogmatic, basis?
It could also be because there's a path dependence issue; how does one actually get from where we are to where a particular argument wants us to be?
I don't think that's an accurate statement to make about HN. There are some high-karma users who seem to be very pro-government, and there's no doubt some astroturfing going on. But there is also a vocal population of people who want to see governments act in their people's interests and be accountable for their actions. It just so happens that, as an IT-focused community, HN talks about the IT aspects of government a lot more often.