by motbus3 | 2026-01-27 20:25:58+00:00
What are this user of HackerNews a left wing or right wing? What are his opinions on the current US government
Please justify in topics

https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=dewey

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Based on the public comments available from the HackerNews user dewey, here is an overview of their opinions and perspectives related to government, politics, and the US:
Political Leanings and Philosophy
* Skepticism of the "Left/Right" Binary: The user has expressed a critical view of the partisan divide, suggesting that both sides are equally prone to tribalism. They noted that "it's no different on either side with how willing they are to believe something horrendous about the other side," which they believe interferes with objective interpretation.
* Systemic Cynicism: In some discussions, the user has characterized Western democracy as a "sham," arguing that the citizenry does not make significant choices. They have suggested that elections are subject to large-scale manipulation through mass media and that "the range of acceptable opinions... are determined by the real rulers—presumably the billionaire class."
* Pragmatic Localism: Despite their cynicism toward national politics, the user has advocated for local engagement. They argue that a citizen can effectively advocate for tangible improvements at the local level (e.g., public parks, youth programs) more effectively than through large-scale political movements.
Views on the US Government and Public Policy
* Efficiency and Technology: The user views government software and infrastructure through an investment lens. They have argued that if people want a cost-efficient government, they should "treat the software landscape as an investment opportunity," suggesting that public software could be treated as a "public utility" to save money in the long run.
* Regulatory Complexity: In discussions about the Library of Congress and state laws, they noted that the density of classifications/laws is "nonuniform," pointing out that states like New York and California have highly complex legal structures compared to others.
* Skepticism of "Big Tech" Collaboration: The user expressed frustration with the relationship between government-mandated security and private software, comparing some "security audits" and "box-checking" processes to the "silliest parts of the TSA process," which they feel provide little actual security value.
Other Relevant Topics (as per your request)
* Income/Wealth: While their personal income is not stated, they frequently critique "concentrated corporate power" and the "billionaire class," expressing concern that AI and LLMs may exacerbate this concentration.
* Religion/Philosophy: They have referenced an interest in philosophy (specifically the "Analytic-Continental divide" and philosophers like Richard Rorty) and have discussed the spread of "subversive beliefs" like Christianity in a historical context, viewing religion as a subject of sociological and philosophical study.
* Personal Life: The user has mentioned being a father with a mortgage, which they cite as a reason for their increased interest in local politics and wanting to "leave it better than I found it."
In summary, the user does not clearly identify as "left-wing" or "right-wing" in a traditional sense. Their views lean toward populist-skepticism and pragmatic localism, combined with a critique of both corporate power and partisan political "teams."