But we don't have consumer unions, because people think they can turn to their government.
In a way, the government is the only effective consumer union we have, and in truth, as long as the people can maintain a competent government, I see nothing wrong with using it as a big stick. However, we have abdicated our power to it entirely, and nobody is watching over it. We simply seek advantage over our neighbors, and this is why we are suffering the consequences. This is, of course, completely our own fault.
...instead of just arbitrarily and indiscriminately breaking ones they personally disagree with...
Hmmm...like a certain powerful leader chooses to do on the slightest whim. The "thieves" you disparage are just following the example set by their "superiors". Many of us don't believe in the "Do as I say, not as I do." thing anymore. If you won't apply the law to everybody...equally, don't try to apply it to me. "Si tu fumas, yo puedo fumar tanbien."
...what's your solution? No copyright, and anything that can be copied digitally should always be free?
Well, somebody has to pay for the electricity(for now), however, that would be a good first step.
Misappropriating and/or "stealing" things that don't belong to you...
You're also missing the point. The things described here don't rightfully belong to anybody exclusively. It is a misappropriation of government power to grant such ownership. That's the real theft.
...that there are millions of people who have indirectly benefited economically from the industries that have sprung up around, support, and are supported by, music, television, books, and movies?
And there are many who benefit from contraband, prohibition, war...Just because a particular group of people benefit from something, doesn't automatically make it a good thing.
A business model based on exclusivity, though profitable for some, is not necessarily a good way to run things. It causes an artificial scarcity of resources where none would exist otherwise. It depends on the misery of many for the benefit of a privileged few. It is based on the premise that if there was no poverty, nobody would do anything. Most of us live on land that was stolen from somebody else, even if indirectly. So maybe you should think twice on where to apply the term "theft".
When since IP law steals from the public domain, and most people support IP law, therefore theft must be good. Another way to look at it: Is stealing from a thief a good thing? An expressed idea belongs to everybody, and it belongs to nobody. You can't steal something that can't be owned.
In my last journal I call him a financial suicide bomber, but I'll go along with the "heart attack" story(kinda) until I see evidence that proves otherwise. Which I'm sure will never surface. Ol' boy got away clean. Ain't no recapturing him.
If the telcos are not regulated they either coalesce into a Ma Bell or cartel the market.
Wrong in too many ways to count. I'll lay out the most obvious for you. Ma Bell did not get that way due to lack of regulation. In fact, just the opposite is true. It was government regulation that protected their monopoly. It is impossible for any one corporation to monopolize any market without government protection of some form. One form is outright regulation, as in Ma Bell's case, and in the case of broadcast media, or many other widely used method of mass communications. Another is is IP law, as in the case of Microsoft, the biggest pharmaceutical companies, the content distributors(note, that does not necessarily include the content creators), and a certain seed supplier. In a truly free market, it is up to us to weed out the wheat from the chaff. We can use the government to help us make an informed decision, but the decision should be ours to make. At the same time, you are right that the public can and should use the government to enforce their decision, provided there is a widely accepted consensus. A simple majority would leave 49% out in the cold.
of the chemicals until they are patented." Figures. So I guess all you African and South American mofos will just have to suffer a while longer. Let's hope somebody a little less greedy can find out what the checmicals are before the patent is approved. And besides, why are we going to let anybody patent a naturally occurring substance anyway? If they are patenting the method of seperation, well, that's a different story. But the chemical itself? No way!
However, it's clear that the people in charge of China want the population to go along with their edicts, and furthermore think that it is a good thing. The PRC spends a lot of money on propaganda, etc, so that the population is kept under control.
In any case, EVERYONE, not just people whos data might have been compromised, should check their credit reports regularily and pay close attention to their financial information.
They should also demand That the finance institutions find better ways to secure the info...without causing undue incovenience to the customer. They are the people that are leaving the door wide open for this kind of problem. Data privacy laws are as worthless as an EULA and will always be virtually impossible to enforce worldwide. Plus, turning info into contraband will just make it more profitable to abuse and will actually increase the probability of your data being used against you. Vote with your wallet and burn your credits cards until they fix the problem. We, the customer, are cutting them way too much slack. Stop believing the lies. The problem is solvable, or at least controllable. Make data security their problem, and then it will be fixed.
When enough peole want to change things, they will change. Most everybody is too confortable to give a damn. There is no doubt. We are adrift. We're asleep at the wheel. But nobody is going to rescue us. The guy in the mirror simply has to become aware of what he is doing. The header of this thread is a perfect statement on the current state of affairs. The trolls were elected in a system that most people are perfectly willing to accept. And they don't want to hear that they have been duped. They take it as a personal assault on their intelligence. And on top of that, most are voting for their own persanl insterests, voting themselves entitlements, tax cuts(that never materialize), etc. They will vote to kill or torture neighbor if it will fatten their wallet. These are the people you're up against. The guy next door. Not BIGCORP or government. Those people all get their power from you and your neighbors.
Yes. Convert it all to mag lev track and use personal pods for travel. It will at least as safe as an elevator if it's completely automated. And the total cost will still be cheaper than going to war over the petroleum.
Slashdot Mirror
No hat required.
In light of recent events, since when has the law ever protected anyone's privacy in the US?
But we don't have consumer unions, because people think they can turn to their government.
In a way, the government is the only effective consumer union we have, and in truth, as long as the people can maintain a competent government, I see nothing wrong with using it as a big stick. However, we have abdicated our power to it entirely, and nobody is watching over it. We simply seek advantage over our neighbors, and this is why we are suffering the consequences. This is, of course, completely our own fault.
...instead of just arbitrarily and indiscriminately breaking ones they personally disagree with...
...what's your solution? No copyright, and anything that can be copied digitally should always be free?
Hmmm...like a certain powerful leader chooses to do on the slightest whim. The "thieves" you disparage are just following the example set by their "superiors". Many of us don't believe in the "Do as I say, not as I do." thing anymore. If you won't apply the law to everybody...equally, don't try to apply it to me. "Si tu fumas, yo puedo fumar tanbien."
Well, somebody has to pay for the electricity(for now), however, that would be a good first step.
Misappropriating and/or "stealing" things that don't belong to you...
...that there are millions of people who have indirectly benefited economically from the industries that have sprung up around, support, and are supported by, music, television, books, and movies?
You're also missing the point. The things described here don't rightfully belong to anybody exclusively. It is a misappropriation of government power to grant such ownership. That's the real theft.
And there are many who benefit from contraband, prohibition, war...Just because a particular group of people benefit from something, doesn't automatically make it a good thing.
A business model based on exclusivity, though profitable for some, is not necessarily a good way to run things. It causes an artificial scarcity of resources where none would exist otherwise. It depends on the misery of many for the benefit of a privileged few. It is based on the premise that if there was no poverty, nobody would do anything. Most of us live on land that was stolen from somebody else, even if indirectly. So maybe you should think twice on where to apply the term "theft".
When since IP law steals from the public domain, and most people support IP law, therefore theft must be good. Another way to look at it: Is stealing from a thief a good thing? An expressed idea belongs to everybody, and it belongs to nobody. You can't steal something that can't be owned.
Truly an American icon.
Sad, but true.
Tragic for his family...
Not if they get to keep all the stolen property.
In my last journal I call him a financial suicide bomber, but I'll go along with the "heart attack" story(kinda) until I see evidence that proves otherwise. Which I'm sure will never surface. Ol' boy got away clean. Ain't no recapturing him.
If the telcos are not regulated they either coalesce into a Ma Bell or cartel the market.
Wrong in too many ways to count. I'll lay out the most obvious for you. Ma Bell did not get that way due to lack of regulation. In fact, just the opposite is true. It was government regulation that protected their monopoly. It is impossible for any one corporation to monopolize any market without government protection of some form. One form is outright regulation, as in Ma Bell's case, and in the case of broadcast media, or many other widely used method of mass communications. Another is is IP law, as in the case of Microsoft, the biggest pharmaceutical companies, the content distributors(note, that does not necessarily include the content creators), and a certain seed supplier. In a truly free market, it is up to us to weed out the wheat from the chaff. We can use the government to help us make an informed decision, but the decision should be ours to make. At the same time, you are right that the public can and should use the government to enforce their decision, provided there is a widely accepted consensus. A simple majority would leave 49% out in the cold.
What? The planet isn't warm enough for you already?
And you'll make millions on the guano.
of the chemicals until they are patented." Figures. So I guess all you African and South American mofos will just have to suffer a while longer. Let's hope somebody a little less greedy can find out what the checmicals are before the patent is approved. And besides, why are we going to let anybody patent a naturally occurring substance anyway? If they are patenting the method of seperation, well, that's a different story. But the chemical itself? No way!
China and India have too much vested interest to allow such bullying to have any influence.
They also have a vested interest in joining the WTO cabal. Which do you think is more important to them?
If you can't go down one road because it's blocked by a rockslide, you can either sit down and cry about it, or you can find another way around.
Or you can clear away the rocks.
He was informing us of the speculative nature of his post. Maybe you should take the bet :-)
However, it's clear that the people in charge of China want the population to go along with their edicts, and furthermore think that it is a good thing. The PRC spends a lot of money on propaganda, etc, so that the population is kept under control.
Just how do you say "FOX" in Chinese?
In any case, EVERYONE, not just people whos data might have been compromised, should check their credit reports regularily and pay close attention to their financial information.
They should also demand That the finance institutions find better ways to secure the info...without causing undue incovenience to the customer. They are the people that are leaving the door wide open for this kind of problem. Data privacy laws are as worthless as an EULA and will always be virtually impossible to enforce worldwide. Plus, turning info into contraband will just make it more profitable to abuse and will actually increase the probability of your data being used against you. Vote with your wallet and burn your credits cards until they fix the problem. We, the customer, are cutting them way too much slack. Stop believing the lies. The problem is solvable, or at least controllable. Make data security their problem, and then it will be fixed.
It's purpose is to enforce Microsoft's Intellectual Property Rights.
Wrong. Intellectual property is a privilege granted by government. It is NOT a right by any means!
When enough peole want to change things, they will change. Most everybody is too confortable to give a damn. There is no doubt. We are adrift. We're asleep at the wheel. But nobody is going to rescue us. The guy in the mirror simply has to become aware of what he is doing. The header of this thread is a perfect statement on the current state of affairs. The trolls were elected in a system that most people are perfectly willing to accept. And they don't want to hear that they have been duped. They take it as a personal assault on their intelligence. And on top of that, most are voting for their own persanl insterests, voting themselves entitlements, tax cuts(that never materialize), etc. They will vote to kill or torture neighbor if it will fatten their wallet. These are the people you're up against. The guy next door. Not BIGCORP or government. Those people all get their power from you and your neighbors.
It reminds of the Simpsons episode where Lisa finds an "angel" buried near a mall that was under construction.
I got the letter stating my info was in there.
From the guy who stole the computer?
Really... 'cos as I understood it, the FCC is all appointed.
By our ELECTED representatives.
Maybe you ought to wait till the last book comes out. If you saw the news, you know what I'm talking about.
Or can somebody think of a better use for it?
Yes. Convert it all to mag lev track and use personal pods for travel. It will at least as safe as an elevator if it's completely automated. And the total cost will still be cheaper than going to war over the petroleum.