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Two Senators Call For ACTA Transparency

Posted by kdawson on from the we-got-more-senators-than-that dept.

angry tapir writes "Two US senators have asked President Barack Obama's administration to allow the public to review and comment on a controversial international copyright treaty being negotiated largely in secret. The public has a right to know what's being negotiated in the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), Senators Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, and Bernard Sanders, a Vermont Independent, argue in the letter."

10 of 214 comments (clear)

  1. ROFLCOPTER by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why legislate in the open when you can negotiate secret treaties in the dark?

    Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

    It doesn't matter if this treaty is filled with rainbows and puppies. It needs to be killed as a matter of principle. Free people and free nations do not make law in the dark.

  2. Most insightful department ever by selven · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "We got more senators than that"

    Indeed. It's a shame that only 2% of the senate is willing to stand up against this gross violation of transparency and democratic principles. Good luck to Bernie Sanders and Sherrod Brown and anyone else who might join them.

    1. Re:Most insightful department ever by Shakrai · · Score: 5, Informative

      Indeed. It's a shame that only 2% of the senate is willing to stand up against this gross violation of transparency and democratic principles.

      That really surprises you? Our Congress is anything but transparent. Bills aren't drafted in public and debated on the floor -- they are written behind closed doors by the Congressional leadership and only brought to the floor for some grandstanding in front of the C-SPAN cameras before the vote (whose outcome is already pre-determined) is taken. It's even worse in the House than the Senate. In the House you can't do ANYTHING without the approval of the leadership. We are supposed to have a House of Representatives but it's really a House of whatever [insert current speaker here] wants to allow to the floor.

      Our Government stopped being about transparency and democratic principles a long time ago.

      --
      I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
      We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
    2. Re:Most insightful department ever by kurt555gs · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I wrote to Senators Durbin, and Burris. They both responded in form letter that they are all for whatever is being negotiated to stop "piracy". Apparently either they didn't read or don't care that what is really happening (from what has been leaked) is the end of Fair Use, and First Sale. Along with DRM with no way out.

      Nice to know both my Senators have our interest at heart.

      Not!

      --
      * Carthago Delenda Est *
    3. Re:Most insightful department ever by afidel · · Score: 5, Informative

      Brown's been on the good side of technology legislation for a LONG time, when he was over in the House he served on the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet and was almost always on the side of the citizenry. Every time I've written him about issues concerning me I have received a detailed and thought-out response, some signed by him personally. I've also had the pleasure to meet him in person on numerous occasions and even had the chance to follow-up on some of those letters. He remembered details of my correspondence so I'm fairly certain they were not simply responded too by staffers. He might not be as approachable today as a senator has significantly more constituents but I doubt he cares less about them.

      --
      There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
    4. Re:Most insightful department ever by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      Indeed. It's a shame that only 2% of the senate is willing to stand up against this gross violation of transparency and democratic principles.

      That really surprises you? Our Congress is anything but transparent. Bills aren't drafted in public and debated on the floor -- they are written behind closed doors by the Congressional leadership and only brought to the floor for some grandstanding in front of the C-SPAN cameras before the vote (whose outcome is already pre-determined) is taken. It's even worse in the House than the Senate. In the House you can't do ANYTHING without the approval of the leadership. We are supposed to have a House of Representatives but it's really a House of whatever [insert current speaker here] wants to allow to the floor.

      Our Government stopped being about transparency and democratic principles a long time ago.

      It could be worse. In Canada, our members in the House of Commons have to vote with their party or be removed from it (so votes on bills really are predetermined here). And the senate has rubber stamped every bill through for years.

  3. My original link + PDF of the letter by angry+tapir · · Score: 5, Informative
    Here's the link to the longer article that was originally in my story submission before the editor removed it. It includes a link to a PDF of the letter.

    cheers,
    A. Tapir

  4. Re:what what the name of that Who song? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The way US politics and campaign finance are run, there is no way to make a credible run for office unless you are "same as the old boss."

    If you don't like that fact, find a way to change it. But don't complain that a system designed to perpetuate itself continues to look the same.

  5. Re:Gonna be modded down but ... by h4rr4r · · Score: 5, Insightful

    American was not interested in a racist religious nutbag.

  6. Re:Gonna be modded down but ... by PopeRatzo · · Score: 5, Funny

    Reading political discourse among most slashdotters is like watching old people fuck.

    It's messy, clumsy, and a little bit revolting.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.