Ambassador Claims ACTA Secrecy Necessary

I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property writes "According to Ambassador Ron Kirk, the head of US Trade Representatives, the secrecy around the ACTA copyright treaty is necessary because without that secrecy, people would be 'walking away from the table.' If you don't remember, that treaty is the one where leaks indicate that it may contain all sorts of provisions for online copyright enforcement, like a global DMCA with takedown and anti-circumvention restrictions, three-strikes laws to terminate offending internet connections, and copyright cops. FOIA requests for the treaty text have been rebuffed over alleged 'national security' concerns. One can only hope that what he has said is true and that sites like Wikileaks will help tear down the veil of secrecy behind which they're negotiating our future."

Comments

Don't believe in imaginary property?

[gestalt_n_pepper]

Well, thanks then. I'll take your stocks, bonds, REITs, life insurance and the cash in your wallet, which after all, are all fundamentally just imaginary.

Re:Down with the Government

[Anonymous Coward]

95% of American's get plenty to eat (too much, including me).

Only as long as there are oil-rich countries to invade.

On the Obama bit

[Anonymous Coward]

On the Obama bit, how can you know until AFTER he's been there whether the change will happen?

The other examples, in contrast are where they did bad and were STILL voted in. Quite completely different.

But I suppose you have to slam the black man, in case he slams your women, huh?

Re:On the Obama bit

[Killer Orca]

But I suppose you have to slam the black man, in case he slams your women, huh?

Typical, someone raises a question about what the government is doing, but because the president is black then anybody who questions him must be racist right? "You're a racist" is such an effective way to censor people these days.

I hope you recognize the irony of just how incredibly racist it is to call "racism" when nothing racist was even hinted at.

Asshole.

A study shows a greater chance of that than you might think. http://futurity.org/top-stories/bias-colors-opinion-on-obama-policies/

Re:The question is...

[Private-Realtors]

Yes, that is totally nonsense when national security is brought up for anything the government doesn't feel like telling us, and this "national security" explanation is always thrown around and we are expected never to question it! I say "Power to the People!" Homes to rent in Nampa

Re:Is Kirk hinting to us?

[shutdown -p now]

If we were smart as a whole, we'd be voting libertarians into government, keeping government at a minimal size, government "services" (as in defense, police, and maybe infrastructure) would be funded by tariffs, and private citizens would be able to help the less fortunate. We wouldn't be demanding a nanny state.

You're essentially saying that everyone who is not a libertarian is an idiot. Very eloquent propaganda there, sir.

Re:Is Kirk hinting to us?

[mcgrew]

Sociopathy

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD or APD) is defined by the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual as "...a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood."[1]

Symptoms
Characteristics of people with antisocial personality disorder may include:[3]

Persistent lying or stealing
Superficial charm[4][5]
Apparent lack of remorse[4] or empathy; inability to care about hurting others
Inability to keep jobs or stay in school[4]
Impulsivity and/or recklessness[4]
Lack of realistic, long-term goals -- an inability or persistent failure to develop and execute long-term plans and goals
Inability to make or keep friends, or maintain relationships such as marriage
Poor behavioral controls -- expressions of irritability, annoyance, impatience, threats, aggression, and verbal abuse; inadequate control of anger and temper
Narcissism, elevated self-appraisal or a sense of extreme entitlement
A persistent agitated or depressed feeling (dysphoria)
A history of childhood conduct disorder
Recurring difficulties with the law
Tendency to violate the boundaries and rights of others
Substance abuse
Aggressive, often violent behavior; prone to getting involved in fights
Inability to tolerate boredom
Disregard for the safety of self or others
Persistent attitude of irresponsibility and disregard for social rules, obligations, and norms
Difficulties with authority figures [6]