CDR: Wired News Senate scorecard: Democrats beat Republicans
Just in time for Tuesday's election, Wired News has compiled a tech scorecard for the U.S. Senate. The list sorted by last name: http://www.wired.com/news/print/0,1294,39923,00.html Sorted by score: http://www.wired.com/news/print/0,1294,39978,00.html Info on House of Representatives scorecard from last month: http://www.politechbot.com/p-01445.html Some interesting results: Democrats did well, nabbing the four top slots, and beating the Republicans 52 percent to 48 percent overall. But Joseph Lieberman, the Democratic VP hopeful, finished with just 38 percent, in the fifth-worst position. Democrat Patrick Moyhihan did the best out of everyone, surprisingly. That was probably because he missed three votes -- on at least one he would probably have gone the wrong way -- but we scored on percentage of cast votes, not possible votes. -Declan #1: A vote to allow the use of electronic signatures. (Yes is 1) #2: A vote for a juvenile crime bill that included Internet regulation (No is 1) #3: A vote for additional H-1B visas. (Yes is 1) #4: A vote to require federal candidates to disclose contributions online within 24 hours. (Yes is 1) #5: A vote to require Internet providers to offer filtering software. (No is 1) #6: A vote to establish permanent trade relations with China. (Yes is 1) #7: A vote to oppose special restrictions on online sales of firearms. (Yes is 1) #8: A vote to create an information-technology-training tax credit. (Yes is 1) #9: A vote to restrict online sales of alcohol. (No is 1) #10: A vote to single out purportedly offensive content online and offline and create a commission to study it. (No is 1)
From: "Declan McCullagh"
Just in time for Tuesday's election, Wired News has compiled a tech scorecard for the U.S. Senate. #4: A vote to require federal candidates to disclose contributions online within 24 hours. (Yes is 1)
#5: A vote to require donors to federal candidates to disclose their motivations for making contributions online within 24 hours. (Yes is 1)
At 9:55 AM -0500 11/6/00, Declan McCullagh wrote:
Just in time for Tuesday's election, Wired News has compiled a tech scorecard for the U.S. Senate.
Showing the foolishness of converting a more nuanced, vector form of voting records into a simplistic, scalar form. Consider some of these questions:
#4: A vote to require federal candidates to disclose contributions online within 24 hours. (Yes is 1)
Supporters of liberty don't like "campaign disclosure" laws at all, let alone "online disclosure." Consider the equally onerous violation of the First Amendment: "Those writing articles must disclose online anyone with whom they have had financial relationships over the past 5 years." A clear violation of the First, right? So is any limit on who I support financially, who I give money to, how candidates raise money, etc.
#8: A vote to create an information-technology-training tax credit. (Yes is 1)
Just another special interest tax loophole. Those interested in liberty know that these loopholes distort the free market. The usual result of such "training credits" is a series of mostly-bogus "Learn to Operate Keypunch Machines at the Control Data Institute!!" radio ads for fly-by-night schools in areas very far from technology centers. Getting the training subsidies is what matters. In these cases, I would argue strongly that a "No is 1." No wonder the Dems did so well. Again, the real problem is trying to collapse multiple issues into a simple-minded "technology score." At least the Nolan Chart understands that at least two dimensions are needed. --Tim May -- ---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---- Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, ComSec 3DES: 831-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets, "Cyphernomicon" | black markets, collapse of governments.
At 09:56 AM 11/6/00 -0500, Declan McCullagh wrote:
Democrat Patrick Moyhihan did the best out of everyone, surprisingly. That was probably because he missed three votes --
Oh dear. More arguments for AP.
participants (4)
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David Honig -
Declan McCullagh -
Me -
Tim May