NWFlyer 2 #1 February 9, 2009 http://www.eightmaps.com/ http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/business/08stream.html?_r=1&ref=technology eightmaps is a new web site that plots donors supporting California Prop 8 onto google maps. Using publicly-available data, it's able to show name, donation amount (only donations over $100 have to be publicly-disclosed), employer (if the donor provided it) and their approximate location. I gotta say I'm really torn on this one. As someone who did not support Prop 8, part of me says "so what if these people are getting harassed - it's just a small taste of the harassment most gays have gone through in their lifetimes." But the other part of me is more than a little creeped out by how invasive this seems. On this issue, the people being "outed" are people whose viewpoints I disagree with - but what if I were on the "wrong" side of an issue? I don't agree with Prop 8 supporters, but I'm also uncomfortable with the fact that because this information is out there, people are getting death threats, fake (?) anthrax mailings, and harassing e-mails. My bigger concern is that this type of activity is going to discourage individual participation in the political process. We talk a lot about how we need to take politics out of the hands of big business and put it back in the hands of the individual voters - but this type of use of technology has the potential to cause an individual voter to keep their money in their wallets."There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,587 #2 February 9, 2009 That's awful. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #3 February 9, 2009 It is actually a little disturbing to not only see the names and location but the dollar amounts that were poured into this campaign. Just in a few minutes looking I found multiple CEO/CFO positions that had put $100000 of their own money into donations for this. It was also a bit funny to see all the lawyers and partners in law firms that donated money, they probably stood to make a ton more money if Prop 8 failed and they got the divorces from everyone! Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #4 February 9, 2009 This is open government. The public has the right to know who's putting money into these things, on both sides of any issue. Obama wants this kind of openness, and Obama is never wrong. The only thing new here is tying the names to a physical address with a map. But those physical addresses were previously available also, they were just in a list form, rather than a google map. So there's really nothing new here, except that the info in instantly available online, and in map form. Police need to prosecute the people making these threats, and those prosecutions need to be advertised, to discourage others from doing the same. And a big banner to that effect on this web site would be useful. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,587 #5 February 9, 2009 QuoteObama wants this kind of openness, and Obama is never wrongI don't think the election of Obama made this happen. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #6 February 9, 2009 Quote I don't think the election of Obama made this happen. He planned ahead and had the law passed back in 1974, knowing that 35 years later, his plan would all come together. "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #7 February 9, 2009 QuoteMy bigger concern is that this type of activity is going to discourage individual participation in the political process. We talk a lot about how we need to take politics out of the hands of big business and put it back in the hands of the individual voters - but this type of use of technology has the potential to cause an individual voter to keep their money in their wallets. That is exactly the reason that small donations are not tracked. I understand your concern, but I'm far more concerned about companies being able to hide their prejudicial political influence through anonymous donations like members of the KKK hiding behind white hoods.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,523 #8 February 9, 2009 QuoteQuoteMy bigger concern is that this type of activity is going to discourage individual participation in the political process. We talk a lot about how we need to take politics out of the hands of big business and put it back in the hands of the individual voters - but this type of use of technology has the potential to cause an individual voter to keep their money in their wallets. That is exactly the reason that small donations are not tracked. I understand your concern, but I'm far more concerned about companies being able to hide their prejudicial political influence through anonymous donations like members of the KKK hiding behind white hoods. I've got to agree with this. There are several "hot button" issues that I have strong opinions on, and when large companies make significant donations, I want to know about it so that I can conduct my business accordingly. If these companies want to take these stands, fine. But if they choose to take a political stand, I will take that into account when I decide to do business with them (or not)."There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #9 February 9, 2009 QuoteI don't think the election of Obama made this happen. I didn't claim that he did. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gene03 0 #10 February 10, 2009 I think we need once again to remind people this is not supposed to be a democracy. We were founded as a Republic.“The only fool bigger than the person who knows it all is the person who argues with him. Stanislaw Jerzy Lec quotes (Polish writer, poet and satirist 1906-1966) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
