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If Congress were serious about keeping the US economy "safe and effective", it would reform the "lawyers' job security" laws. Instead it will surely make them even worse, and make the lawyer tax on technology mandatory.

I don't see that happening any time soon -- http://www.yourcongress.com/ViewArticle.asp?articl e_id=1671

It's odd, but it was none other than Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah.

You can find some references here:
http://www.yourcongress.com/ViewArticle.asp?articl e_id=1263 - Don Henley of the Eagles says "Just as you have so insightfully observed, Mr. Chairman, it is as though you have paid off your mortgage and the bank still owns your house." (para 11)

And who was the chairman on April 3, 2001 of the Senate Judiciary Committee? You can find that one yourself.

Any bill that favors the little guy and leads to the rich not getting what they want stands no chance in a republican congress. That's why Net Neutrality didn't pass, and won't pass with our current legislature in the US. Undeniable proof:

In the last 9 years, we have not seen the minimum wage rise above $5.15, or roughly $10,700 per year at a 40 hour work week. Yet Congress has voted 5 pay raises for themselves, claiming a need for "cost of living adjustments". Who needs a cost of living adjustment, someone making 10,000 per year or someone making 150,000?
http://www.yourcongress.com/viewarticle.asp?articl e_ID=2027 (1,2,3,4)
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/20/dobbs.june21/ (and 5, two days ago)

Sorry about the tangent, but I think it's important if you want something done about this, to realise the first step is to get someone into office listening to more than money.

Kick the elitists out of office, and maybe then we'll have our equality on the net.

IRAQ WAR RESOLUTION
107th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. J. RES. 114
October 10, 2002
JOINT RESOLUTION
To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq.

In a major victory for the White House, the Senate early Friday voted 77-23 to authorize President Bush to attack Iraq.

I'd like to see some references to your statistics. They seem too...convenient. 90% this, 9 out of 10 that, $1 billion here, 1 out of 10 there.

I know it's popular to hate lawyers, so what I'm about to say will probably burn my karma to cinders. But, the simple truth is, it's not the fault of lawyers. They're working within the system, getting paid by clients to do what they do. You want less patent lawsuits? Reform the patent system. Don't burn lawyers at the stake.

Why aren't you seeing body bags of Americans killed in Iraq on the evening news? (lesson learned from Vietnam, don't show dead Americans on TV or you'll loose the war)

Why is there such a gigantic fine if you show a nipple on TV?

There was a survey of what people watching mostly FOX knew about the world around them. On most of the questions people watching FOX thought exactly the opposite of the truth. One of the questions was they thought foreigners though of the US, and 80% something say 'They like us', when most people outside of the US in fact dislike you. As a journalist, would you be proud of your network if a majority of of viewers believe the wrong thing most of the time? I would not.

Can you show a link to that vote?

I saw the footage when congress gave the president power to start any preemtive war. You should watch it too, in fact every American should, but they are not going to see it on TV (cause it's censored):

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436971/#comment

In fact, the issue of voting on the war with Iraq was a major political issue during the last Presidential election, as John Kerry, the opponent to George Bush, had voted for going to war with Iraq....and yet strongly opposed the War in his campaign.

You should stop listening to your own propaganda and start contemplating how people outside the US think of you, and also why.

The whole "the Internet belongs to the US!" thing is exactly why people dislike you.

The official reason for the war has changed over the last couple of years from "weapons of mass destruction", through "harbouring terrorism" to "saving the people from Saddam's tyrany".

There were either 22 or 23 "reasons for the war" in the bill that authorized it. The vote was not close.

We shouldn't have gone in and when we did we fucked up.

We did the right thing going in, and the strategy is working.

Attorney's don't make patent law.

---

It's wrong that an intellectual property creator should not be rewarded for their work.
It's equally wrong that an IP creator should be rewarded too many times for the one piece of work, for exactly the same reasons.
Reform IP law and stop the M$/RIAA abuse.

Here's your unnecessary resolution. Obviously Bush felt it was necessary to ask permission. Congress gave him the ability to make his own choice. You must not have read the timeline either. Bush recieved authorization 5 months before starting the war.

http://www.yourcongress.com/ViewArticle.asp?articl e_id=2686

IRAQ WAR RESOLUTION
107th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. J. RES. 114
October 10, 2002 ...
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.
(a) AUTHORIZATION- The President is authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to--
(1) defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and
(2) enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.
(b)PRESIDENTIAL DETERMINATION- In connection with the exercise of the authority granted in subsection (a) to use force the President shall, prior to such exercise or as soon thereafter as may be feasible, but no later than 48 hours after exercising such authority, make available to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate his determination that--
(1) reliance by the United States on further diplomatic or other peaceful means alone either (A) will not adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq or (B) is not likely to lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq; and
(2) acting pursuant to this joint resolution is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorist and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.

SEC. 4. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. (a) REPORTS- The President shall, at least once every 60 days, submit to the Congress a report on matters relevant to this joint resolution, including actions taken pursuant to the exercise of authority granted in section 3 and the status of planning for efforts that are expected to be required after such actions are completed, including those actions described in section 7 of the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-338). ......

>I hate that phrase. First, lawyers don't create laws; Legislators/Congress(wo)men do (and judges interpret them)

Funnily enough, 39% of Congress are lawyers. I believe that this is lower than usual. Perhaps some of them have been disbarred because of all the fraud, assault, drug use, shoplifting and drunk driving that they like to indulge in.

Lawyers and Congress are two sides of the same tarnished coin.

On the Metallica issue, I recall a very funny series of cartoons mocking Metallica while they were driving napster into the ground. They're still funny today, and can be found here. I mean, with this new site, could they be any more hypocritical? You can find Ulrich's testimony before congress about shutting down napster here. As I recall, he came off as whiny.

On SCO, this is a neat new idea. If enough major OSS developers start a divestment strategy against SCO, if nothing else they'll be ostracized and dead sure to fall when their lawsuits start going downhill. These sort of tactics could make the OSS community a force to be reconed with in buisness as well as technical circles, and maintaining the goodwill of the OSS community more important.

On ice cream and liquid nitrogen, i have no idea what to say because the site is /.tted to hell but Sounds Yummy.

Over 90% of the serving members of the 3 branches of government were lawyers.

Not even close ....

• About 35% of Congress are lawyers reference
  
• Neither the President nor the Vice President have a law degree reference
  
• Nine of the fifteen cabinet officers have law degrees (you'll have to walk through the various department websites, just like I did)
  
• I couldn't find numbers on federal judgeships held by lawyers ... but I'm certainly willing to concede that branch.
  

Just some food for thought....

The "rep from TX" is Lamar Smith (R-TX) from San Antonio. yourcongress.com and opensecrets.org are good starting points if you are willing to actually do something to stop these ridiculous laws.

Boucher's PowerRanking is 77 of 437 in Congress. Semi-high, but not high enough to make a difference without help...

Boucher's PowerRanking is 77 of 437 in Congress. Semi-high, but not high enough to make a difference without help...

(a) In General -- It is unlawful to manufacture, import, offer to the public, provide or otherwise traffic in any interactive digital device that does not include and utilize certified security technologies that adhere to the security system standards adopted under section 104. -- http://216.110.42.179/docs/hollings.090701.html

Sharing music can take away my right to own firearms? It's a felony now and <sarcasm>felons are all dangerous criminals who shouldn't have guns</sarcasm>. In 15 states, a felony conviction removes your right to vote forever. LOSING THE VOTE:The Impact of Felony Disenfranchisement Laws in the United States

As for someone else's arguement that "I won't buy it"- great, me too. The two of us can spend some serious time trying to keep today's computers running for the rest of our lives because laws make us unwilling to buy new equipment. It will be easy as pie to market ourselves on resume's in a decade. "Still able to operate equipment from the 00's" Windows BlahX experience? nah, I don't have a machine that can run that. Apache 6.03 experience? No, but I've got 10 years experience with version 2.0

I'm trying to find a group that will tell politicans not to abuse me. EFF seems interested in doing that but they move at a snails pace. YourCongress.com seems to be interested in getting the people's voice to the politicans but the editors seem more interested in being funny then talking about issues. What groups do people use/belong to/know about that are active in fighting for geek rights?

Read this for an insider's view of things: http://www.yourcongress.com/section.asp?section=Wr ite_Or_Call