Zachary Burkert
@zacharyburkert.bsky.social
Husband
Californian
Economist by education, data scientist by profession
Californian
Economist by education, data scientist by profession
Also, most of us look at the output to confirm it’s correct…. We don’t blindly assume it’s correct. If you can’t do that you shouldn’t use LLMs for anything important.
November 22, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Also, most of us look at the output to confirm it’s correct…. We don’t blindly assume it’s correct. If you can’t do that you shouldn’t use LLMs for anything important.
Right, could you just imagine if we just gave the vote to the people and they elected a fascist demagogue twice!?!….
Glad we don’t have that problem.
Glad we don’t have that problem.
November 22, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Right, could you just imagine if we just gave the vote to the people and they elected a fascist demagogue twice!?!….
Glad we don’t have that problem.
Glad we don’t have that problem.
Our first constitution was the articles of confederation, which we replaced about 20 years after the founding.
November 22, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Our first constitution was the articles of confederation, which we replaced about 20 years after the founding.
1. I don’t know why farmers should have more say than anyone else
2. That wouldn’t happen.
2. That wouldn’t happen.
November 22, 2025 at 2:02 AM
1. I don’t know why farmers should have more say than anyone else
2. That wouldn’t happen.
2. That wouldn’t happen.
We’re talking about amending the constitution or having a constitutional convention, both of which have occurred in the past; it’s not unheard of.
November 22, 2025 at 2:00 AM
We’re talking about amending the constitution or having a constitutional convention, both of which have occurred in the past; it’s not unheard of.
Federalism is the split in powers between the federal government and state/local governments.
The senate and presidency in and of themselves are not examples of federalism.
States being given the right to manage their own elections, schools, building codes, etc. is an example of federalism.
The senate and presidency in and of themselves are not examples of federalism.
States being given the right to manage their own elections, schools, building codes, etc. is an example of federalism.
November 22, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Federalism is the split in powers between the federal government and state/local governments.
The senate and presidency in and of themselves are not examples of federalism.
States being given the right to manage their own elections, schools, building codes, etc. is an example of federalism.
The senate and presidency in and of themselves are not examples of federalism.
States being given the right to manage their own elections, schools, building codes, etc. is an example of federalism.
The two concepts are not in opposition to each other.
November 22, 2025 at 1:50 AM
The two concepts are not in opposition to each other.
And to add I do think that the senate should be abolished and we should have a proportionally based unicameral legislature if we care at all about democratically elected representative government.
November 22, 2025 at 1:49 AM
And to add I do think that the senate should be abolished and we should have a proportionally based unicameral legislature if we care at all about democratically elected representative government.
This is the definition of the slippery slope fallacy.
Arguing that votes should be given equal weight regardless of geography does not equate to arguing that states should not exist.
Arguing that votes should be given equal weight regardless of geography does not equate to arguing that states should not exist.
November 22, 2025 at 1:45 AM
This is the definition of the slippery slope fallacy.
Arguing that votes should be given equal weight regardless of geography does not equate to arguing that states should not exist.
Arguing that votes should be given equal weight regardless of geography does not equate to arguing that states should not exist.
Right but the way each states election is weighted gives citizens in some states more representation than other states and is winner take all.
Of each state had electors equal to the number of votes from that state and it was not winner take all we would essentially be saying the same thing.
Of each state had electors equal to the number of votes from that state and it was not winner take all we would essentially be saying the same thing.
November 22, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Right but the way each states election is weighted gives citizens in some states more representation than other states and is winner take all.
Of each state had electors equal to the number of votes from that state and it was not winner take all we would essentially be saying the same thing.
Of each state had electors equal to the number of votes from that state and it was not winner take all we would essentially be saying the same thing.
Who is advocating for the removal of federalism by asking for the president to be elected by popular vote?
You can have 50 states administer and tally votes for 50 elections and sum up the votes for each candidate to determine the winner. Or just do the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.
You can have 50 states administer and tally votes for 50 elections and sum up the votes for each candidate to determine the winner. Or just do the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.
November 22, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Who is advocating for the removal of federalism by asking for the president to be elected by popular vote?
You can have 50 states administer and tally votes for 50 elections and sum up the votes for each candidate to determine the winner. Or just do the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.
You can have 50 states administer and tally votes for 50 elections and sum up the votes for each candidate to determine the winner. Or just do the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.
Yes but it doesn’t mean that was a good idea.
November 22, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Yes but it doesn’t mean that was a good idea.
Literally yes. Citizens in smaller states have more representation than citizens in larger states via each state having the same number of senators.
November 22, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Literally yes. Citizens in smaller states have more representation than citizens in larger states via each state having the same number of senators.
Who said anything about undoing federalism.
The states would still administer and tally their own elections. But the final result would be based on who won the most votes.
It’s not complicated and is a red herring as you still haven’t answered why your vote should count more than any other.
The states would still administer and tally their own elections. But the final result would be based on who won the most votes.
It’s not complicated and is a red herring as you still haven’t answered why your vote should count more than any other.
November 22, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Who said anything about undoing federalism.
The states would still administer and tally their own elections. But the final result would be based on who won the most votes.
It’s not complicated and is a red herring as you still haven’t answered why your vote should count more than any other.
The states would still administer and tally their own elections. But the final result would be based on who won the most votes.
It’s not complicated and is a red herring as you still haven’t answered why your vote should count more than any other.
And why exactly should your vote matter any more or less than citizens of any other state?
November 22, 2025 at 1:05 AM
And why exactly should your vote matter any more or less than citizens of any other state?
If the technique is a known quantity (as in it will be X more hours of work) than I usually say yeah, however if it’s got the potential to make the whole thinking vastly longer to complete I tend to stick to simplicity and add the technique to the list of things one could do if given more time.
November 21, 2025 at 1:04 AM
If the technique is a known quantity (as in it will be X more hours of work) than I usually say yeah, however if it’s got the potential to make the whole thinking vastly longer to complete I tend to stick to simplicity and add the technique to the list of things one could do if given more time.
We tried this with a neutral/popular prosperity inducing policy changes with Biden and they failed, not sure it’s possible with unpopular policy changes unless there is consensus across the political spectrum.
November 18, 2025 at 11:50 PM
We tried this with a neutral/popular prosperity inducing policy changes with Biden and they failed, not sure it’s possible with unpopular policy changes unless there is consensus across the political spectrum.
We truly are screwed if they do in fact turn out to be lenient (again)
November 18, 2025 at 1:00 AM
We truly are screwed if they do in fact turn out to be lenient (again)
We have been for 8 of the past 12 years. Any blue state administration would be a vast improvement over the status quo and I don’t think we need to be penny wise and pound foolish with leadership.
November 18, 2025 at 12:57 AM
We have been for 8 of the past 12 years. Any blue state administration would be a vast improvement over the status quo and I don’t think we need to be penny wise and pound foolish with leadership.
I mean, have you looked around lately? I doubt it’d be worse than this.
November 18, 2025 at 12:47 AM
I mean, have you looked around lately? I doubt it’d be worse than this.
Or they believe people who are lying to them about what is in their own self interest.
November 17, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Or they believe people who are lying to them about what is in their own self interest.
A phrase I heard recently - authoritarianism is here, just not evenly distributed.
November 7, 2025 at 12:47 PM
A phrase I heard recently - authoritarianism is here, just not evenly distributed.
@techconnectify.bsky.social may need to revisit this one day
September 21, 2025 at 4:54 PM
@techconnectify.bsky.social may need to revisit this one day
never thought I’d say it but I miss Pelosi
September 4, 2025 at 12:14 AM
never thought I’d say it but I miss Pelosi
The rationalization is everywhere…
For me it’s when the racism or cruelty is described as a result of “economic anxiety” or “change in culture “
… no it is is not, the racism and cruelty is the point for these people and they don’t need a justification.
For me it’s when the racism or cruelty is described as a result of “economic anxiety” or “change in culture “
… no it is is not, the racism and cruelty is the point for these people and they don’t need a justification.
August 23, 2025 at 9:44 PM
The rationalization is everywhere…
For me it’s when the racism or cruelty is described as a result of “economic anxiety” or “change in culture “
… no it is is not, the racism and cruelty is the point for these people and they don’t need a justification.
For me it’s when the racism or cruelty is described as a result of “economic anxiety” or “change in culture “
… no it is is not, the racism and cruelty is the point for these people and they don’t need a justification.