The Worst Coders In Washington

spooky writes "The American Open Technology Consortium, 'a nonprofit organization of technologists who have joined together to educate lawmakers and regulators about technology -- especially in regards to The Internet' has compiled a list of the lawmakers responsible for eight bad internet laws. They say, 'These bad coders and their backers have done more damage to computing, the Internet and freedom than all the virus authors, spammers and crackers combined', Do you agree? Did they miss anyone?"

Comments

thank the GOP for this mess

[kraksmoka]

Just remember tomorrow all you techies. When you're at the poll, Just Say No to the conservative right. They are the true enemy. All of these bad laws have been under their watch in Congress. Throw the bums out!

apply flames here:

Re:thank the GOP for this mess

[superyooser]

I was going to write a little satire in response to your statement that conservatives are the real enemy. Then I realized that your beliefs are every bit as absurd as any sarcasm I could come up with. The humor would've been lost.

Look, we are living in historic times. The opening shots of World War III may have already occurred. (It's hard to interpret history when you're in the midst of it.) Conservatives are trying to cajole the nation into doing what must be done for our survival. Liberals are aligning with Stalinist dictators. Democrats are campaigning from Baghdad, apparently holding a solidarity rally with Saddam Hussein, a supporter of al-Qaeda and a bona fide terrorist himself. ..... And you're telling me that whoever supports the Communications Decency Act represents the biggest evil in the world?! This is why I have trouble taking any this DMCA/CDA/COPA/CBDTPA controversy seriously. It's blown up so big that I tend to shrug off the whole thing out of incredulity. Besides, anything that puts liberals in tizzy must be good. :-)

The CDA et al are peanuts compared with the towering issues of our time. National security, economic policy, and social security should be receiving far more of our attention. (I know this is /., but we are talking about real life elections.) The relevance of the first two issues should be obvious, but SS is important too and not just to old people. If current policies remain, income taxes will have to be increased to 50% to keep SS afloat. How's that for being consumer friendly? You'll have nothing to buy anything with after making your necessary expenditures. We'll be facing a colossal economic disaster if SS isn't fixed.

If the topic of this story is a major political concern to you, ask yourself whether it's in your best interest to be a single-issue voter based on this. Don't get tunnel vision. There are many important issues out there.

Follow the Money

[lildogie]

When will we ever learn the lessons that Microsoft has to teach us?

Microsoft Justice(TM) and Microsoft Congress(TM) are the market leaders. More people pay more money for Microsoft Government(TM) products than any other brand.

Don't be fooled by the also-ran brands. You'll find that you'll end up thinking harder and making more decisions with those so-called "open", no-owner forms of representation.

If the legal corruption problems with Microsoft-based government were as bad as they're made out to be, why are Microsoft Government(TM) products raking in so many profits?

Go with the market leader!

Re:stevens

[pnatural]

Die.

You're welcome to try, but instead, I think you'll sit in your parents basement, whine and snivel, and continue to spew your self-righteous crap, all the while posting to ./ as an AC.

Fool.

Re:American ./ers unite

[shatfield]

I used to think that it was all about the votes -- you know, people come in, write on a peice of paper (or punch out a little hole). Then the papers were all gathered up and tallied.. whoever got the most votes wins. Right?

Welp, not true. Gore got more votes than Bush did. Bush's buddies in government elected him. It certainly wasn't the people of the United States.

Yes, it really is all about the Benjamins