Open Discussion
Say anything you want, even 'anything'. Give your opinion on all other opinions. Find out what you have in common with other people.
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Executive Summary

Across a broad open‑discussion poll, participants expressed strong consensus (typically 70‑100% agreement) on a wide array of cultural, political and policy issues, indicating a pronounced appetite for institutional reform and more equitable public provisions.

  • 79‑100% view the Supreme Court as corrupt and support a voting‑based accountability mechanism
  • 75‑92% favor non‑commercial public spaces and 73‑96% criticize intrusive advertising, calling for limits on ad overload
  • 80‑95% believe art is intrinsically valuable even if it is not judged as ‘good’
  • 72‑100% endorse gay rights and 66‑95% view unions positively, reflecting broad social‑progressive sentiment
  • Policy proposals with strong backing include a voting‑based Supreme Court check, prohibiting members of Congress from owning stocks in industries they regulate, universal free lunch in public schools, and banning private‑equity firms
Key Takeaway

Institutional distrust, especially toward the Supreme Court, drives a clear demand for democratic accountability mechanisms.

These findings suggest policymakers should prioritize reforms that increase transparency and public control over traditionally insulated institutions, while also expanding non‑commercial communal spaces and universal support programs.

What People Believe

Art Worth

Claim: Art does not need to be good to be worth making. Interpretation: Respondents view artistic creation as intrinsically valuable regardless of perceived quality. Agreement levels were reported between 80% and 95%.

Supreme Court Corruption

Claim: The Supreme Court is corrupt and should be fixed. Interpretation: Participants perceive the highest court as corrupt and call for remedial action. Agreement levels were reported between 79% and 100%.

Voting Check on Supreme Court

Claim: A voting-based check on the Supreme Court is needed to make it accountable. Interpretation: Respondents argue that voters should have direct power to limit the Court's authority. Agreement levels were reported between 78% and 100%.

Desire for Non‑Commercial Public Spaces

Claim: More places to spend time besides work and home that don't require purchasing anything are needed. Interpretation: Participants wish for accessible, free communal spaces. Agreement levels were reported between 75% and 92%.

Advertising Overload

Claim: Excessive and unregulated advertising on devices and the internet is problematic and should be limited. Interpretation: Multiple comments criticize intrusive ads and call for stricter regulation. Reported agreement ranged from 73% to 96% across the comments.

Gay Rights Support

Claim: Gay rights are endorsed. Interpretation: A participant explicitly expresses support for gay rights. Agreement levels were reported between 72% and 100%.

Self‑Harm Discussion Proposal

Claim: Self‑harm should be allowed as a discussion topic on the site. Interpretation: The comment proposes expanding site topics to include self‑harm as distinct from suicide. Agreement levels were reported between 74% and 99%.

Billionaire Hubris

Claim: Billionaires should not be protected from their own hubris. Interpretation: Respondents argue that wealth does not excuse reckless behavior. Agreement levels were reported between 75% and 93%.

Citizenship Test for Office

Claim: A citizenship test should be required to run for or hold public office. Interpretation: The proposal suggests adding a knowledge requirement for political eligibility. Agreement levels were reported between 67% and 94%.

Unions Positive View

Claim: Unions are viewed positively. Interpretation: A participant expresses favorable sentiment toward labor unions. Agreement levels were reported between 66% and 95%.

For‑Profit Prisons Abolition

Claim: For‑profit prisons are dystopian and should be abolished. Interpretation: The comment characterizes for‑profit prisons as morally abhorrent. Agreement levels were reported between 67% and 91%.

Poverty Assistance Burden

Claim: Low‑income heating assistance application requirements are overly burdensome. Interpretation: The comment criticizes the complex documentation needed for assistance. Agreement levels were reported between 69% and 91%.

Piracy Not Theft

Claim: If you cannot own something, piracy is not stealing. Interpretation: The statement proposes that lack of ownership nullifies theft claims. Agreement levels were reported between 65% and 89%.

Die Hard as Christmas Film

Claim: Die Hard is considered a Christmas movie. Interpretation: A participant asserts that the action film qualifies as a holiday movie. Agreement levels were reported between 68% and 91%.

Suggested Policies and Actions

Allow restaurant and grocery employees to take home unsold food

Regulations that let employees keep unsold food would cut waste while giving workers a direct benefit, addressing food insecurity. This proposal builds on respondents’ view that assistance programs are overly burdensome, suggesting a simpler way to help low‑income workers.

Add a free‑app search filter to the Apple App Store

Introducing a search filter for completely free apps would improve user experience for those seeking apps without in‑app purchases or subscriptions. Respondents criticized intrusive advertising and expressed a desire for less commercial pressure online, supporting the need for clearer free‑app options.

Prohibit members of Congress from owning stocks in industries they regulate

Baring legislators from owning stocks in sectors they oversee would reduce conflicts of interest and curb potential corruption. Participants described the Supreme Court as corrupt and argued that wealth should not shield individuals from accountability, providing normative backing for tightening ethical standards in government.

Introduce a voting‑based check on Supreme Court authority

A constitutional amendment creating a voting‑based mechanism would make the judiciary answerable to the electorate. Respondents explicitly called for such a voting‑based check and also expressed concerns about systemic corruption in the Supreme Court, underscoring the demand for democratic accountability.

Legalize marijuana nationwide

Federal legislation to repeal marijuana prohibition would align national law with the majority public support and existing state policies.

Provide universal free lunch in public schools

Implementing universal free lunch would close nutrition gaps for all students and eliminate stigma associated with means‑tested programs. This aligns with respondents’ criticism of complex assistance requirements, highlighting the need for straightforward, universal support.

Bar individuals convicted of violent crimes from owning firearms

Prohibiting gun ownership for those convicted of violent felonies aims to enhance public safety by preventing high‑risk individuals from accessing firearms.

Raise the federal minimum wage

Increasing the federal minimum wage would raise earnings for low‑wage workers and help alleviate poverty.

Tax the Church of Scientology as a business entity

Applying standard corporate tax rules to the Church of Scientology would ensure equitable fiscal treatment across organizations.

Ban private equity companies

Legislation to ban private equity firms would prevent practices viewed as harmful to workers and competition. Respondents described for‑profit prisons as dystopian abuses, reflecting broader concerns about profit‑driven entities exploiting vulnerable populations.

Vote Details

Fixing Corruption
The Supreme Court is corrupt and something should be done to fix that.
--spring

Vote Details

Checks on the Supreme Court
There needs to be a voting-based check on the power of the Supreme Court. They’re currently totally unaccountable dictators, and all branches of our government need to be under the ultimate control of the voters. We can't pass a constitutional amendment every single time they rule something insane.
--spring

Vote Details

Wish
We need more places to spend time besides work and home, especially ones that don't need you to buy anything.
--Agreed Upon Solutions

Vote Details

complaint
It should be illegal for my smart TV to immediately start playing a full screen ad as soon as I turn it on.
--rainbow

Vote Details

Advice
Art does not need to be good to be worth making
--the_springs

Vote Details

dope.
Gay rights.
--anonymous

Vote Details

Awesome
Unions are awesome 😎.
--albertj

Vote Details

Financial Regulation
Members of Congress should not be allowed to own stocks in the industries they regulate.
--spring

Vote Details

Proposal
Private equity companies should be banned.
--albertj

Vote Details

Proposal
We should bring back universal free lunch in schools.
--albertj

Vote Details

Complaint
Google Search should be required to penalize websites for being stuffed full of advertisements. The internet has become almost unusable.
--the_springs

Vote Details

Wish
The internet should have way more regulations over advertising.
--HMS Game Center

Vote Details

Proposal
Self-harm should also be a topic on this site, as it occurs in different ways than suicide, and is more common than actual suicide. It’s also often an indicator of suicidal thoughts or behavior.
--kitten_kokomo

Vote Details

gut feeling
Billionaires should not be protected from their own hubris.
--the_springs

Vote Details

Proposal
You should have to pass the citizenship test to be eligible to run for or hold office.
--albertj

Vote Details

Why is this allowed?
For profit prisons are horrifying dystopian abominations and should be abolished.
--spring

Vote Details

Furious
Applying for low income heating assistance requires an in person appointment, a social security *card* (not just number), a mortgage agreement, and bank statements from everyone in the house. Who the fuck decided that? This should be trivial to get!
--spring

Vote Details

Brainstorming
If you can't own it, then it's not stealing when you pirate it.
--anonymous

Vote Details

Observation
Die Hard is a Christmas movie.
--anonymous

Vote Details

Proposal
Employees working in restaurants and grocery stores should be able to take home food that would otherwise be thrown away.
--Agreed Upon Solutions

Vote Details

Complaint
The Apple app store should at least let you *search* for free apps with no in-app purchases or subscriptions.
--the_springs

Vote Details

Marijuana legalization
Marijuana should be legal.
--spring

Vote Details

Gun control
People convicted of violent crimes should not be allowed to own guns.
--spring

Vote Details

Minimum wage
Minimum wage needs to be increased.
--spring

Vote Details

Proposal
The church of Scientology should be taxed like a business -R.S.
--anonymous