Canada

That's the thing, Trakata isn't making the case that it's in our best interest to be able to understand legislation. They're making the claim that they read a document they did not read to show support for legislation that's both authoritarian and supporting of government surveillance in a time when our biggest problems will be solved by neither.

Understanding complex legislation is a difficult, time-consuming job that requires experts in the field. Experts like those who work with the CCLA and professional journalists that parse this complexity and make it easier to consume for the rest of the nation. In the same way that while it's in every citizen's interest to have clean water, we're not expected to source and boil our own: we have experts who maintain water treatment facilities. Trakata's smug "I read the bill and I think it's great" line is both (a) a lie, and (b) a deception intended to distract from the dangers of the bill.

I agree in part.

I'm genuinely curious, did you read the bill, or do you plan to? If so, I would seriously love to hear your take on it. I've read the backgrounder, and skimmed the actual bill. Even just doing that I'm sure I've read more of it than 99% of Canadians.

Generally speaking, if you've actually read and understand it, then I say it's your duty to help act as a vulgarizer so others can navigate it. It's easy to say that we value citizens' duty to educate themselves on their democracy, then figuratively cross our arms and say "well I read it and I don't agree" and refuse to elaborate, when asked for your informed (and valuable!) opinion--which is what certain people who claim to have read the bill in this thread appear to be doing.

I'm not trying to be cheeky. If you've (or anyone else has) read the bill and you care about our democracy, then please share your actual thoughts on the bill! So far all we seem to be doing is arguing meta amongst each about how to talk about bills, and not the fucking bill--pardon my language, this comment sections is frustrating me. it's not directed at you - you're cool. :)