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Political Issues of the Tech Community?

Posted by Cliff on from the what-do-you-care-about dept.

DonJefe68 asks: "I'm planning to create a website which lists the political positions that US House and Senate candidates here in North Carolina have on issues of concern to the tech community. There are obvious issues like the DMCA and Fritz Hollings' CBDTPA as well as issues such as the effect of the economy on the tech sector and the USA PATRIOT Act's privacy concerns. What national issues other than intellectual property, privacy and jobs are we interested in?" Are there other sites that track politician votes, on technical issues, for other US States or on a national level? For those readers who do not live in the US, please feel free to speak your mind on this topic or on political issues that affect you as well.

60 comments

  1. Non-American Opinions... by danbeck · · Score: 0

    As an American, do I really care how a non-resident non-American feels about our issues?

    I personally don't. They have little to no influence in our internal affairs and their opinions don't have much use or weight.

    Is the opinion of a socialist from France or a hard line communist from Russia really relevant to our country? Do we really care what Germans think? They did invade and attempt to subjugate Europe twice.. twice mind you.

    When it comes down to it... only American opions matter concerning American affairs. Since when are we ruled or should be ruled by other countries?

    1. Re:Non-American Opinions... by presearch · · Score: 2

      Thanks dubya, I didn't know you were a ./ reader.

      If this is dubya, or even if not, you're an ass.

    2. Re:Non-American Opinions... by presearch · · Score: 2

      Upon further consideration, this can't be dubya because he can't read. Sorry for the confusion.

    3. Re:Non-American Opinions... by danbeck · · Score: 0

      I didn't write the post so that everyone would like me and I'd feel good about myself. I wrote the post because American politics isn't the world's political forum.

    4. Re:Non-American Opinions... by neocon · · Score: 2

      And a good thing you did.

      Isn't it amazing how many people who would scream their lungs out if an American tried to tell them how to run their country think that they have a God-given right to object to domestic policy initiatives here?

      NEWSFLASH: the US president is responsible to the Constitution and the People of the United States. He is not responsible to make the Europeans feel important, the UN feel relevant, or the assembled dictators of the third world feel appeased.

    5. Re:Non-American Opinions... by neocon · · Score: 2

      Rather than random invective, perhaps you can present a rational argument (any rational argument) why we would possibly consider the opinions of people in other countries in deciding what to do within the US?

      Can you?

    6. Re:Non-American Opinions... by danbeck · · Score: 0

      What the hell... This sort of trash get's modded up to 2? Who's doing this? Slashdot have a troupe of chimps on the clock today?

      Dubya can't read... priceless.

    7. Re:Non-American Opinions... by swillden · · Score: 3

      Rather than random invective, perhaps you can present a rational argument (any rational argument) why we would possibly consider the opinions of people in other countries in deciding what to do within the US?

      How about: because this planet isn't all that large, because we have to live with the rest of the world and because our actions affect the rest of the world and theirs affect us?

      Note that "considering the opinions" of someone is not the same as "taking orders" from them.

      Actively seeking to understand the world's view of us and our policies and trying to choose courses of action that will allow us to live harmoniously with the rest of the world, where possible, is good policy. And it doesn't preclude us deciding to do something no one else likes -- it just keeps us aware of the implications of those one-sided decisions.

      After all, the best, and most rational approach to taking care of your own includes serious consideration of how others will react to your actions. My kids may think it would be really nice to have a swimming pool, and robbing a bank would be a quick and easy route to raising the money, but I'd be well-advised to consider the opinions of a few others before I go do it...

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    8. Re:Non-American Opinions... by presearch · · Score: 2

      The original poster asked for insight on issues for a website.
      He wasn't offering seats in the Senate for "foreigners".
      He just wanted opinions and information.

      This anti-everybody-but-the-US mindset will be our downfall.

      You know, many of us have spouses or sons and daughters living abroad.
      It's not the closed world you want it to be. We all interact and influence each
      other on a global level. The US seems to want this influence to work in one
      direction only, by force if needed.

    9. Re:Non-American Opinions... by neocon · · Score: 2

      I would certainly hope that you do not rob the bank because you believe that robbery is wrong of itself, and not because you don't want to hurt the bank teller's feelings...

      At any rate, this doesn't give any answer as to why you would ask the bank teller's opinion before putting up curtains within your home, now does it? That is what we're talking about here, after all, the hubris of those in other countries who feel that their opinion is reason enough to derail actions within the US which the American people want and the American Constitution provide for.

      Because, again, at the end of the day, we are a democratic republic, and that means that the opinion of our own people will be the deciding factor in our decisions, not the opinions of European appeasers or third world kleptocrats.

    10. Re:Non-American Opinions... by presearch · · Score: 1

      Dubya can't read "priceless".

      He can, if it's printed in really big letters.
      Preferably in a pop-up book with pictures of fuzzy caterpillars.

    11. Re:Non-American Opinions... by presearch · · Score: 1

      not the opinions of European appeasers or third world kleptocrats

      Indeed. Who needs 'em when we've got our own First world kleptocrats running things?

    12. Re:Non-American Opinions... by presearch · · Score: 1

      Do we really care what Germans think? They did invade and attempt to subjugate Europe twice

      Well, the US is just now getting serious in the "invade and subjugate" business. Nothing like the voice of experience to show you the ropes I always say.

    13. Re:Non-American Opinions... by swillden · · Score: 2

      I would certainly hope that you do not rob the bank because you believe that robbery is wrong of itself, and not because you don't want to hurt the bank teller's feelings...

      Morality-based decisions are much less obvious in the world of international politics, so that's a poor extension of my analogy.

      At any rate, this doesn't give any answer as to why you would ask the bank teller's opinion before putting up curtains within your home, now does it?

      And another poor extension (maybe it wasn't such a great analogy). Anyway, you're implying here that the decision in question has absolutely no impact on the teller. If that's the case, then fine.

      In fact, decisions made by the U.S. about how we choose to regulate technology *do* have impacts upon the rest of the world, and it does, therefore make sense to ask their opinions.

      Further, there is the fact that the U.S. does not have any kind of a monopoly on smart people -- it would be truly amazing if we did, given the tiny percentage of the human race we comprise -- and there is every possibility that someone outside the U.S. might just come up with a really Good Idea, which we missed.

      For that matter, is there any *harm* in asking the bank teller what her opinion is of your curtain ideas? She just might have some suggestions that are worthwhile. Then again, her opinion might be stupid and could be discarded. But what's wrong with asking (assuming the question isn't going to annoy her)?

      That is what we're talking about here, after all, the hubris of those in other countries who feel that their opinion is reason enough to derail actions within the US which the American people want and the American Constitution provide for.

      "Derail"? That's an awfully strong word, carrying overtones of violence and a great amount of force. No one is suggesting that a foreigner's opinion should be taken as the final word. For that matter, I would hope no one is suggesting that a single American's opinion should be taken as the final word.

      The ability to listen to and seriously consider dissenting opinions is part of what divides rational people from fanatics.

      Read that last sentence again. And again, until you understand it.

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    14. Re:Non-American Opinions... by AllMightyPaul · · Score: 1

      Nah, we were always like this: French & Indian War (7 Years War), expansion into west and eradication of natives, Spanish American War, and there are a probably a few others I just can't recall.

    15. Re:Non-American Opinions... by neocon · · Score: 2

      In a word, yes. It's called `democracy'.

    16. Re:Non-American Opinions... by presearch · · Score: 1

      ...Hey, it wasn't flamebait.

      The training you'll get will be so dumbed down and slow paced
      that it'll take you 8 times as long to learn the same thing in the real world.

      It's called `democracy'...

      Indeed.
      That's not what it is. But that's what it's called.

    17. Re:Non-American Opinions... by presearch · · Score: 1

      oops. I'm a paste-buffer moron.

    18. Re:Non-American Opinions... by DEBEDb · · Score: 2

      Because if you are actually convinced by
      the argument, does it matter if a US citizen
      made it or not?

      --

      Considered harmful.
    19. Re:Non-American Opinions... by neocon · · Score: 2

      When your car is broken, you seek the advice of a mechanic. The advice of a baker may be good, but it doesn't have the same presumption of validity.

      When you want advice on what America should do, go to an American -- that's why this is a democracy.

      That said, I have no problem with consideration of opinions from any source; in this you are right on. This is different from the apparent belief of many Europeans and others that they have some sort of moral high ground, and should have veto power over actions of ours which they don't agree with.

    20. Re:Non-American Opinions... by DEBEDb · · Score: 2

      I take issue with your example, though. An
      American's opinion may be uninformed, and
      a non-American's very educated. A mechanic is
      someone that supposedly was trained and
      practices car repair. An average American
      may not even vote or know much about the Consitution or issues in depth.

      --

      Considered harmful.
    21. Re:Non-American Opinions... by benjamindees · · Score: 1

      What about Ex-Americans?

      --
      "I assumed blithely that there were no elves out there in the darkness"
    22. Re:Non-American Opinions... by sholton · · Score: 1
      When you want advice on what America should do, go to an American

      When you want advice on Chicken Soup, do you ask a chicken?

      If you want advice on what America should do, you should ask both those who are responsible for making it happen, and those who would be affected by the decisions.

      --
      A new kind of meat designed to appeal to vegetarians.
    23. Re:Non-American Opinions... by neocon · · Score: 2

      All of which misses the point, which is that this is a democracy, and at the end of the day, it is the American people who have to make up their mind who to elect, and by extension what the country will do.

      That is why debates about what the country should do are inherently debates between Americans. Everyone else is welcome to their opinion, but as long as this is a democracy, they aren't the ones who will decide.

    24. Re:Non-American Opinions... by DEBEDb · · Score: 2

      Well, as for "welcome to their opinion" -
      many people don't even go that far, which,
      I think, is a mistake.

      But as for "they aren't the ones who decides" -
      neither are most Americans :). What was the
      voter turnout last time?

      --

      Considered harmful.
    25. Re:Non-American Opinions... by neocon · · Score: 2
      Umm, well and good, but do you know what percentage of non-Americans vote legally in US elections?

      It's been holding steady at zero for over two hundred years now -- so I guess that's not the standard you're looking for. :-)

    26. Re:Non-American Opinions... by HughsOnFirst · · Score: 2

      >They have little to no influence in our internal
      >affairs and their opinions don't have much use or >weight.

      But an opinion + boxcutter + airline ticket...

    27. Re:Non-American Opinions... by iceman80231 · · Score: 1

      No, more like "invade, subjugate, rebuild (at a tremendous sost to the American taxpayer), and send them our jobs." Get it right.

  2. Copyright extension and Open standards for USG by Gerry+Gleason · · Score: 1
    I hope the Supreme court makes this moot, but if not the copyright extension should be repealed.

    U.S. Government agencies must use open standards in all data transactions and data archives. Sincere Choice states this clearly.

  3. Special interests have a place I guess by rw2 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I think it's great that you want to be more active. God knows that was my goal when I put together poliglut a couple years ago.

    I started out with more of a tech angle, but decided that the problem with the country was a more general lack of education. The people who would seek out your site regarding DMCA and it's ilk are probably going to find out what's going on anyway. So you will be putting out a lot of effort for not so much return.

    I would instead encourage you to find a way to put the word out about the importance of those issues in a mainstream web site. This effort is less likely to be wasted as there is an almost total vacuum outside of a few in the tech community concerning tech issues. (which makes sense of course or the legislation wouldn't be written in the first place).

    And, of course, you are welcome to write stuff, or republish stuff at poliglut.

    1. Re:Special interests have a place I guess by zpengo · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You know, it's funny how "special interest groups" are evil -- unless they're us.

      --


      Got Rhinos?
  4. H1-B Visas by lynx_user_abroad · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Probably ought to include H1-B Visas.

    <OPINION>

    Personally, I'd like to see the H1-B visa program eliminated, and anyone currently holding (or applying for) a H1-B upgraded to a full greencard. Anyone allowed to work in this country at all should not be restricted to just certain jobs under certain conditions. H1-B's allow an employer extra leverage over the employee; leaving a job for better pay/conditions elsewhere just isn't possible. I'd predict that once employers are deprived of this leverage, they'll start thinking twice about whether hiring a foreign worker is a financially sound thing to do.

    </OPINION>

    Am I off my rocker?

    --

    The thing about things we don't know is we often don't know we don't know them.

    1. Re:H1-B Visas by (trb001) · · Score: 1

      Am I off my rocker?

      No, but I think I may have a different slant on the issue. I'd like to see the H1-B program eliminated, and all the H1-B people sent home. There's a serious glut of American workers, give them the jobs first. The H1-B program was expanded in recent years because employers weren't able to fill the available slots with talented US citizens. That is no longer the issue, and it pains me to see people without jobs who have lived here their whole lives. The H1-B program expanded dramatically when the economy did as well, I think it should be contracted (or eliminated) as the economy has dropped.

      --trb

    2. Re:H1-B Visas by hether · · Score: 2

      I agree that yours is the better approach between the two. Look at how many other countries handle this. The citizens of a nation MUST first be considered for the position before a foreign applicant can even be looked at. If there are no US applicants, then give the job to H1-B person.

      I know in a way this goes against a free economic model or a business' right to choose their own workers and what's best for them though. And this troubles me.

      --

      Most people would die sooner than think; in fact, they do.
    3. Re:H1-B Visas by iceman80231 · · Score: 1

      trb, You almost hit the nail on the head. The H1-B program was not expanded due to any sort of shortage(your remarks alone are clearly indicative of this fact) but rather the H1-B program was and is being used for the same reasons that corporations are sending jobs offshore, i.e. cheap labor. But, with regard to the original post. Are you off your rocker? No, not by a long shot. I work with a few H-1B's from India. They were brought into my group as HP syads. Now, at the time, I had been force-fed a lot of B/S about how "superior" they are to "technically-illiterate Americans." Of course, that myth was shattered when one of them asked me how to do a NFS-mount and the other, on another occasion had asked me what the asterick meant in a case statement in a ksh script. The notion of cheap labor is valid here, after all, you do get what you pay for! LOL!

    4. Re:H1-B Visas by feelsinister · · Score: 1

      IANAE (employer, that is), but I have a feeling that in the UK, most decent employers operate on the principle of equal opportunities. There's a lot of fuss both in the tabloids and from unqualified British people because they often see better-qualified immigrants getting "their" jobs. It's all stupid. Equal opportunities is the only way to go - employing someone because they're from a certain country is just as damaging as discriminating against that person for their nationality. Whatever happened to employing the best person for the job? I know I'd rather be cared for by a fully-qualified doctor from India than a half trained medical student from Britain who was given the place because of their place of birth. Wouldn't you?

  5. Great idea by bwt · · Score: 2

    You should use a database (MySQL would be a good choice for this). Your data model could have issues, politicians, politican_issue_position, and issue_groups.

    As for what issues, gosh there's a bunch:
    1) Crazy software patents
    2) Crazy business process patents
    3) DMCA
    4) DRM
    5) Spam (mandatory "ADV:" for unsoliticted commercial email)
    6) Government developed software using open source licencing
    7) UCITA / non-enforcability of shrinkwraps
    8) Reverse engineering of software
    9) Privacy: opt-in vs opt-out
    10) Governement use of open standards / file formats in software
    11) Spyware
    12) Government procurement policty encouraging/requiring open source
    13) Legislation setting special penalties for violating open source licencing
    14) Tolerating innovation in peer-to-peer tech
    15) Privacy: strong encryption for citizens
    16) Privacy: right to surf anonymously
    17) Digital Television: fair use rights
    18) Right to modify hardware you own

    1. Re:Great idea by DeLabarre · · Score: 1

      Echelon, Carnivore, and other BigBrotherWare.

      --

      In the Star Trek evil Mirror Universe, virtuoso cellist Yo-Yo Ma is gangsta hiphop star DJ Yo Ma-Ma.

    2. Re:Great idea by octalgirl · · Score: 1

      I have been wondering why it so hard to find this information in one place. If possible, some way of allowing others to submit from their own state the views of those in office or running. Coming up with a form letter, maybe a standardized list of questions would be helpful for anyone willing to submit the letter to the candidates in their state.

      One thought though, would you need permission from the various politicians before posting their views?

    3. Re:Great idea by benjamindees · · Score: 1
      One thought though, would you need permission from the various politicians before posting their views?

      God, I should hope not. Unless you plan to slander them. Really, you're just giving legitimitacy to censorship by questioning whether it's necessary. More people should read the Constitution and make up their own minds as to what their rights should be.

      --
      "I assumed blithely that there were no elves out there in the darkness"
    4. Re:Great idea by biohazard99 · · Score: 1

      Needs some tweaks...

      6) Government developed software using open source licencing

      Why not just public domain it, that way everyone gets a crack, comercial and free, without licensing?

      12) Government procurement policty encouraging/requiring open source

      How about rephrasing that as picking the best tool for the job?

      14) Tolerating innovation in peer-to-peer tech

      Do the crime, do the time. Lets face it, someone pirated Dr Dre's album and Metalica's track on the MI:2 soundtrack prior to release (I'm probably missing some, perhaps Madonna as well), it pissed them off, they called their label (Just Time-Warner at that point, pre-merger), who in turn called the other 4 and said we have to kill these bastards now, instead of hunting down the leak internally and firing them.

      16) Privacy: right to surf anonymously

      Fine by me, but make the carriers log and only make those available if a wiretap warrant is issued, just like for phones.

      --
      Read my plan to save the Bengals
  6. Taxes on internet commerce by moc.tfosorcimgllib · · Score: 1

    Taxes on internet commerce.

    1. How they should and should not work.

    2. Where and when to place them.

    It is a necessary evil, one that the tech community has the opportunity to help evolve.

    1. Re:Taxes on internet commerce by danbeck · · Score: 0

      It's highly questionable that taxes could ever be a necessary evil concerning the Internet.

      Is there some service the goverment is paying for that isn't paid for by taxes already in place?

      It's a ridiculous idea to invent a tax for the sake of inventing tax. There should always be a damned good reason to take money away from citizens. The less taxes that are levied on citizens, the more freedom we have.

      taxes = removal of freedom

    2. Re:Taxes on internet commerce by moc.tfosorcimgllib · · Score: 1

      I can buy a $400 graphics card from Texas and have it shipped to me for cheaper than going to a local store to buy it for the same price. The reason is I don't pay the sales tax on the board.

      The sales tax pays for local law enforcement, schools, the local government, things that I enjoy taking for granted. By depriving my local economy of said taxes, they have less money to spend on services that I use on a regular basis.

      People go to great lengths to avoid paying taxes when making large purchases: visiting Indian Reservations, going out of state, and purchasing from the internet.

      How much tax-free "stuff" have you bought from the internet?

      An example I will try to use (although probably incorrectly) is ebay. I'm sure they pay taxes to the state of California. When I buy something off of ebay I do not pay taxes. A few years ago it was a flea market, but now more and more businesses sell brand new merchandise off of ebay. While I'm sure each businesses pays taxes, I have yet to pay any tax on any purchase. This is siphoning money from my local economy to another state. My local government (State, County, District) has made no money, while I have spent my disposable income. While this is not robbing my local economy, it does not help it in any way. Potholes on streets will go unfixed, fewer policeman will be there to help, and state employees will have to do more with less in general, because the funds are less than expected. All from a simple ebay purchase.

      While I might not be able to cause a catastrophe of this magnitude by myself, consider the growing amount of people using the internet to shop. The more tax-free money spent on the internet = less money to fund services that affect your daily life.

      Taxes are always a necessary evil.

      Someone who has ambitions to gain political office never has good intentions.

    3. Re:Taxes on internet commerce by danbeck · · Score: 0
      That's not true. Taxes siphon money from the local economy. A business never, EVER siphons money from the local economy by selling anything. He had to have bought and paid tax on that product somewhere, he has employees (possibly), he pays income taxes, he pays all sorts of taxes on resources used to sell those items. (Phone, electricity, gasoline, etc.) In addition to acutally paying the companies that supply those resources. He pays money to his local post office or package carrier to deliver the items. The list goes on.

      Just because someone in another state doesn't pay sales tax, it doesn't mean it's bad for any local economy.

      This is siphoning money from my local economy to another state. My local government (State, County, District) has made no money, while I have spent my disposable income. While this is not robbing my local economy, it does not help it in any way. Potholes on streets will go unfixed, fewer policeman will be there to help, and state employees will have to do more with less in general, because the funds are less than expected. All from a simple ebay [ebay.com] purchase.

    4. Re:Taxes on internet commerce by danbeck · · Score: 0

      Oh and another quick point. The government is not the local economy. It can support the economy by paving roads and offering protection (police officers), but it is not the economy. That's made up of the businesses and the consumers.

      Why should any state government automatically make money from an economic exchange taking place between you and another business or individual (as it is on eBay)? They don't drive the economy, you and the business do.

    5. Re:Taxes on internet commerce by Rude+Turnip · · Score: 1

      This has always been true of interstate commerce. Buying something over the internet is no different than buying something from a mail order catalog. In some cases, companies offer a print version of their online catalog.

      If you're so upset that buying stuff over the net deprives your local govt., there are two things you should do:

      1. Pay "Use Tax" on your state tax return. The Use Tax (which is mandatory in at least NJ, but no one really pays it...except my dad) requires you to pay sales tax to your home state on any item you bought out of state. There's no way to track all this stuff, so it's really on the honor system. If you're feeling guilty, then pay the tax.

      2. Only buy from companies in your home town/state. There are no stores floating around in some ficticious "cyber-space." There are real buildings, real servers, employees and parking lots. Find out where an online store is headquartered and then you can decide to buy from them if they're in your state.

      --
      Bill Clinton: Pimp we can believe in. - The Shirt!!!
    6. Re:Taxes on internet commerce by Tackhead · · Score: 3, Insightful
      > While this is not robbing my local economy, it does not help it in any way. Potholes on streets will go unfixed, fewer policeman will be there to help, and state employees will have to do more with less in general, because the funds are less than expected. All from a simple ebay [ebay.com] purchase.

      If you believe you have an obligation to fund it, cut a check to the Treasury of whatever government you choose. Most tax-collecting agencies have means through which citizens can say "Here, in addition to the money your laws already tell me I owe you, I'd like you to freely give you some more." Research them and pay whatever you think they deserve.

      > The more tax-free money spent on the internet = less money to fund services that affect your daily life.

      The more tax-free money spent on the internet, the less money to fund pork-barrel programs that don't affect your daily life.

      > Taxes are always a necessary evil.

      Fair enough, but who defines what level of taxation is "necessary", and how to ensure that every tax dollar collected goes towards necessary expenditures? Do you seriously believe that every dollar collected goes towards fixing potholes and protecting you from crime?

      Frankly, given the number of state employees involved in $DUMB_IDEA (At the municipal level, Republicans would find "diversity initiatives" a dumb idea, Democrats would find "shutting down nightclubs due to Ecstasy scares" dumb idea, and Libertarians would find both to be dumb ideas :), I'd say the less tax money the government - any government - has to waste, the better.

      The way to cut down on government waste is to starve it at the source. Anything less is like giving a 40-oz bottle of Stoli to a lifetime alcoholic every day, and expecting him to kick the habit.

  7. You too, might be a Redneck. by FreeLinux · · Score: 2

    If you make posts like this.

    Grow a litlle. Expand your horizons. You will be a better person and the world might be a better place.

    Redneck Reference: Jeff Foxworthy, comedian. Redneck Jokes

  8. Touche by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ouch.

  9. Shoe - Other foot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    the hubris of those in other countries who feel that their opinion is reason enough to derail actions within the US which the American people want and the American Constitution provide for

    Well said. But at the same time the US has never had any problem inflicting its own hubris on anyone else, now have they.

    All in the name of God, freedom and democracy of course. After all , it's for their own good. ;)

  10. Christ... by aliusblank · · Score: 1

    I miss the days when you didn't have to be a lawyer to be a nerd...

  11. My concerns are... by bakes · · Score: 2

    the corruption of the food supply through genetic engineering (ok, some good might come of it, but terminator and roundup-ready technologies are not going to help feed the world, we already have enough food for that)... privatisation of the worlds water supply... corruption of the health of the world by the big pharma companies... George W's obsession with waging war on *sombody*... the widening divide between rich and poor...

    Oh, you wanted tech issues? Sure, I have some concerns there too, but they are further down the list.

    --
    Ho! Haha! Guard! Turn! Parry! Dodge! Spin! Ha! Thrust!
  12. A list of special interests in technical issues: by benjamindees · · Score: 1

    SHAMEFULLY STOLEN POST
    1) Crazy software patents
    SPECIAL INTEREST: Companies that want to patent ones and zeros.
    GENERAL INTEREST: Patents should be reasonable.
    2) Crazy business process patents
    SPECIAL INTEREST: Companies that want to patent air and water.
    GENERAL INTEREST: See #1
    3) DMCA
    SPECIAL INTEREST: Companies that want to charge consumers *per viewing*, and have laws make up for an outdated business model and technical ineptitude.
    GENERAL INTEREST: Consumers who want to buy a copy of a DVD, not the priviledge of watching it.
    4) DRM
    SPECIAL INTEREST: See #1 and #3.
    GENERAL INTEREST: Citizens who realize that computers are not merely tools for the distribution of copyrighted material, and wish to exercise their "right to compute".
    5) Spam (mandatory "ADV:" for unsoliticted
    commercial email)
    SPECIAL INTEREST: Companies who want to SPAM.
    GENERAL INTEREST: No one wants to be SPAMmed.
    6) Government developed software using open source
    licencing
    SPECIAL INTEREST: Companies who have been sucking at the teet that is the Federal Government for generations.
    GENERAL INTEREST: Taxpayers who don't want to pay for it anymore.
    7) UCITA / non-enforcability of shrinkwraps
    SPECIAL INTEREST: Companies that want to *impose* contract terms, rather than negotiate them.
    GENERAL INTEREST: Contracts must be mutual.
    8) Reverse engineering of software
    SPECIAL INTEREST: Companies that want to maintain monopoly dominance through closed protocols.
    GENERAL INTEREST: Citizens who want to maintain a capitalistic society and students who want to learn by disassembly.
    9) Privacy: opt-in vs opt-out
    SPECIAL INTEREST: Companies who make money by selling personal information.
    GENERAL INTEREST: People who don't realize their personal information is being sold.
    10) Governement use of open standards / file
    formats in software
    SPECIAL INTEREST: See #6 and #8
    GENERAL INTEREST: See #6 and #8
    11) Spyware
    SPECIAL INTEREST: See #9
    GENERAL INTEREST: See #9
    12) Government procurement policy
    encouraging/requiring open source
    SPECIAL INTEREST: See #6 and #8
    GENERAL INTEREST: See #6 and #8
    13) Legislation setting special penalties for
    violating open source licensing
    SPECIAL INTEREST: Companies that like to *borrow* open source software and pass it off as their own; or, optionally, open source companies that want special copyright protections.
    GENERAL INTEREST: None that I can tell. This is already well-covered by existing laws.
    14) Tolerating innovation in peer-to-peer tech
    SPECIAL INTEREST: Industry trade associations whose oligopolistic practices and technical ineptitude are highlighted by emerging technologies.
    GENERAL INTEREST: Computing researchers who are seeking better communications networks and consumers who are sick of paying $15 for a CD full of crap.
    15) Privacy: strong encryption for citizens
    SPECIAL INTEREST: Governments that would spy on their citizens.
    GENERAL INTEREST: Citizens who would exercise their right to freedom of speech and association.
    16) Privacy: right to surf anonymously
    SPECIAL INTEREST: See #15
    GENERAL INTEREST: See #15
    17) Digital Television: fair use rights
    SPECIAL INTEREST: See #1, #3 and #4
    GENERAL INTEREST: See #1, #3 and #4
    18) Right to modify hardware you own
    SPECIAL INTEREST: Companies that want to sell a product, then control every aspect of their customer's use of that product.
    GENERAL INTEREST: Ownership is a basic principle of a capitalistic society. /SHAMEFULLY STOLEN POST

    --
    "I assumed blithely that there were no elves out there in the darkness"
  13. Taxation & Immigration by Simplulo · · Score: 1
    Besides your suggested issues of intellectual property, privacy, and jobs, how about
    • taxation (since we tend to make above-average salaries, and are highly mobile)
    • immigration (since immigrants are a major part of our industry)
    Depends on how peripheral you want to get.

    I am a little surprised by all the off-topic verbage by and about foreign readers, as most of these same issues affect people in most countries. Given the historically high and increasing share of trade in our economies, and how much the US exports software and depends on IP protection for those exports, what furreners think does matter. Also, when a country sets sensible policies, it can attract skilled workers from less sensible countries; thus does the US lure workers from much of the world, and Ireland lures companies from the US. I am an American expat living in (privacy-obsessed) Germany, and I cannot wait to return to working in Russia, under a 13% flat tax!!

    I'll come home to the US when the Free State Project hits 20K.

  14. Libertarians make you crazy by NDPTAL85 · · Score: 1

    Don't take offense to this, but you Libertarians are morons. In case you hadn't noticed the Federal government isn't about to entertain the thought of 20,000 people making their own "state". Your vaunted "freedoms" are just another word for "foolishly willfull anarchy."

    --
    Mac OS X and Windows XP working side by side to fight back the night.
    1. Re:Libertarians make you crazy by Simplulo · · Score: 1

      >Don't take offense to this, but you Libertarians are morons.

      If I took offense at every moron's comments, I would indeed be a moron. But if we do make you crazy, please facilitate our relocation to a single state so as to spare you further contact. Our feeling about people like you is mutual, and we wouldn't complain. One of the inescapable weaknesses of democracy is that everyone gets the right to vote, no matter how unworthy; I would be happy without you in my electorate.

      >In case you hadn't noticed the Federal government isn't about
      >to entertain the thought of 20,000 people making their own "state".

      In case you hadn't noticed, that is not what we are doing. Critics of libertarianism are best at attacking strawmen. By the way, how do expect the USG to respond, with tanks?

      >Your vaunted "freedoms" are just another word for "foolishly willfull anarchy."

      The depth of your political theory would indeed make the Founders proud. If you want to critique libertarianism, go to
      http://world.std.com/~mhuben/libindex.html
      an d come back with some ammo.

      Our vaunted "freedoms" (um, why the quotes?) are nothing out of the ordinary, and found singly in various states and countries, and tested over time in the US. Libertarians want the personal freedoms of the Netherlands, the neutrality of Switzerland, and the economic freedom of Hong Kong--all demonstrably successful countries in their own way. Citing states, the legalized prostitution of Nevada, the taxes of the lowest taxing state, the "death with dignity" of Oregon, the school vouchers of Ohio, the right to bear arms of Maine, the homosexual marriage of Vermont, the legalized marijuana of...well, you're not quite there yet in the US; best to look to Europe for guidance on that one.

  15. Re:Copyright extension by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    The biggest issue is copyright and all of the subissues contained within it:
    1. copyright term extension or limitation
    2. fair use
    3. drm
    4. backup copies for personal use
    5. ability to sell original media you bought given you don't own a backup copy (already exists for cd, vinyl, etc.)
    6. ability to edit media you bought for private use
    7. ability to edit movies and sell them given you have a purchased copy for every edited one (the book with crossed out 'bad' words example applies)
    8. ability to use the media for as long as you can with no openership expiration or ongoing licensing
    9. enforceability of eula
    10. clear delination of when a copyright expires (suggest 50 years after creation with none of this 'authors life + 50 years' nonsense)
    11. ability to modify without legal problems any hardware you purchase for your own personal use