ChristianKl comments on How big of an impact would cleaner political debates have on society? - Less Wrong

4 Post author: adamzerner 06 February 2014 12:24AM

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Comment author: ChristianKl 06 February 2014 02:19:40PM 3 points [-]

If the people in power had the desire to enforce honesty and and goodwill in politics the problem would be solved already.

How do you know that it's not some sort of prison dilemma situation, where everyone would want to be more honest but it just doesn't pay off for any player to move in that direction?

Comment author: drethelin 06 February 2014 09:38:19PM 2 points [-]

I don't know that! I don't think it's the situation, but even if it was, whatever payoff matrix exists that keeps it from happening is the same as what would keep THIS suggestion from happening.

Comment author: Luke_A_Somers 07 February 2014 12:12:03AM 0 points [-]

Not necessarily. The metagame doesn't have to have the same structure as the game.

Comment author: drethelin 08 February 2014 12:52:19AM 0 points [-]

Insofar as you need to win the game to even be able to play the metagame it doesn't matter what structure the metagame is.

Comment author: Luke_A_Somers 08 February 2014 12:59:13AM 0 points [-]

The metagame here is the media environment and campaign habits. It doesn't seem to me like you have to already be in office to affect it at least some.

Comment author: drethelin 08 February 2014 01:02:08AM 0 points [-]

in that case the metagame is way HARDER than the actual game, and if you could control the media then you wouldn't need to etc.

Comment author: Luke_A_Somers 08 February 2014 01:08:07AM 0 points [-]

Yes. It is easier to get elected than to change the entire election system. People get elected year after year, and the system doesn't change.