Whether 'nudging' works or not, the concept is unacceptable to me.
First, the term 'nudging' is a misnomer. Let's call it what it is - manipulation. Manipulating the options or defaults to some other set in order to achieve a better outcome for someone...
Well, who is that someone? The government?
Who says that their values align with mine? I wouldn't have responded as the government did to the pandemic, but their nudge units went into overdrive nudging people into vaccinations, etc. Is preventing access to bank accounts for protesting government actions (as in Canada) a 'nudge'?
Can I challenge the promoted values? If the state apparatus has its own values and agenda, how do I get to state mine - where is the values/ethics discussion being had, and how do I get my say? I find the promoted values Orwellian, communistic, overly progressive - one for all, but not all for one... is that opinion fair to hold? Or must I be nudged over the cliff?
Aren't we really just talking about soft-sell authoritarianism here? Weren't we just meant to vote for people, not have a perpetual nanny state guiding us?
Your vote says their values align with yours, or at least most people's. Governments have to do things all the time that step on a few toes for the overall good.
What about all other public health campaigns? Drink driving, cancer screening, anti-smoking? Not everyone will want what they're pushing but we mostly agree that's a good thing for people, and that's why we let the government promote those things.
First, the term 'nudging' is a misnomer. Let's call it what it is - manipulation. Manipulating the options or defaults to some other set in order to achieve a better outcome for someone...
Well, who is that someone? The government?
Who says that their values align with mine? I wouldn't have responded as the government did to the pandemic, but their nudge units went into overdrive nudging people into vaccinations, etc. Is preventing access to bank accounts for protesting government actions (as in Canada) a 'nudge'?
Can I challenge the promoted values? If the state apparatus has its own values and agenda, how do I get to state mine - where is the values/ethics discussion being had, and how do I get my say? I find the promoted values Orwellian, communistic, overly progressive - one for all, but not all for one... is that opinion fair to hold? Or must I be nudged over the cliff?
Aren't we really just talking about soft-sell authoritarianism here? Weren't we just meant to vote for people, not have a perpetual nanny state guiding us?