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Google Profiling Social Network Users
David Harry writes "Google is looking deeper into behavioral targeting of social network users with three more patents. A while back, one patent came to light in the poorly termed ‘friendrank’; Google could be profiling social network users. These three patents now bring the series to five in total."
I'd rather not drink the "a third party candidate has a real chance" kool-aid either. Sorry, but it is still a choice between the lesser of two evils the way the current system is set up. If you want to waste your vote being idealistic go ahead. But throwing away votes does nothing to change the system. Get rid of the electoral college and go by popular vote and then more candidates may have a chance.
"But this one goes to 11!"
Try reading the post I replied to, it may give you some insight. See, I was responding to another post, not starting a new thread. Welcome to Slashdot!
"But this one goes to 11!"
It's not about the third party having a real chance. This year they don't. Your "get rid of the electoral college" isn't going to happen either--the two party system likes it, and so it will stay.
The reason to vote third party is because:
1. It's not about voting for a winner, it's about voting for the candidate that would best meet the needs of the country. In this election, if you vote for one of the approved candidates--and they win--you still lose. The country loses, too.
2. Only when enough people vote against the Dems/Reps will the system change. When the Dem/Rep winner only gets 35-40% of the vote, the people will start to realize that as a group they have other options.
3. You get to say "don't blame me, I didn't vote for him."
As a practical matter, third-party politics needs to start and become powerful on a local level and work its way up. It has started--there are quite a few offices around the country held by third party members, we just need to push the most qualified of these into ever higher positions.
It is a Catch-22 situation. People won't vote for a third party in significant numbers until they have a chance. And a third party won't have a chance unless significant numbers vote for them. Did you vote Nader in either of the last two elections? A bunch of people did and absolutely nothing has changed. I am not willing to throw away a vote to change nothing. Voting for a third party will not change anything. It may point out that people are frustrated with the current system, but in and amongst itself won't change a thing. The only way to bring about change is to change the voting laws - until then voting for ideals is just that.
"But this one goes to 11!"