> private thoughts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-ZpsxnmmbE

CGP Grey has a very good explanation of this situation.

I will be reporting this thought crime to the Ministry of Truth.

In some civilized countries, yes. Take eg. your brain (as an accused), a doctor, a lawyer. There are even countries respecting the sources of journalists...

> absurdly reductionist view

> Do you think that this notion is new? Or that the rest of us haven't considered it?

> a pithy but pointless HN comment

> might expand your thinking on this topic

Just throwing it out there: http://paulgraham.com/disagree.html

It would be more helpful if you expanded on why it's a bad argument. Off the top of my head:

> They don't want it, as evidenced by their not voting for it, so they won't get it

Was there a vote on it? When exactly?

Here's a book about how election results can change people's opinions on topics. It applies here because X. I used to think Y, but it changed my thinking to Z. I'd highly recommend it.

Not that GP is any better, but hey... And to be fair, the guy is practically trolling, whether intentional or not.

"The people" aren't given the opportunity to vote on many things, yet the people they elect do vote. The people they elect often side with their supporters (especially financial ones) on issues that are important to said supporters. A candidate can use their NRA/pro gun status as part of their platform and it will have a meaningful impact on the turnout.

Logically if the US electorate cared even half as much about [topic x] as they do about guns - candidates would care too and "democracy" would follow... no?

(I'm not bashing the US, just taking gun control as an example where a passionate popular view is reflected democratically)