He's the only idea that I have for preventing companies (and individuals) from lobbying legislation. Change your consumer habits. In the pseudo-capitalist society the world is turning into, the only real vote we "the people" have left is through our spending habits. Since the Sony rootkit story broke, I have decided I will no longer buy a Sony product, even if the alternative is more expensive. If an alternative does not exist (yeah right), I simply will not indulge my "want". I only need food, shelter, clothing, and slashdot, so anything that falls outside that umbrella, is a "nice to have". If the company that produces it likes to screw their customers, they don't get my business.
Of course, that's the ideal. The reality is I have many products from companies that I don't agree with... Verizon is a prime example. I bought one of their Motorola e815 camera phones, under the misguided assumption that like ANY DAMN DIGITAL CAMERA, I would be able to download the pictures off the phone to my computer. I thought such a feature would be expected by any REASONABLE consumer, but no. They wanted a quarter a picture to transfer it through their "service" (now this is my intellectual property they're charging me for). So I hacked it. Well actually, I used tools developed by another fine soul, to hack it. I can now download my pictures. This is my little rebellion against the system. If Verizon wants to fine me or come after me, I WILL fight it. I know, bold words, but at least in my head it sounds great.
I am also very vocal with the people in my life that seem too lazy, apathetic, clueless or plain dumb to keep abreast of issues that affect them in the long run. Most don't listen, or don't care, but all I can take care of myself. If the world falls apart AND I did what I thought I could, I can sleep better knowing it wasn't my fault. I might have to sleep better in the Verizon Concentration Camp for Intellectual Subversives (cosponsored by Sony), but I will sleep well.
Actually no, it's not capitalism. While the integrity of Wikipedia has been called in to question as of late, they do have a fairly robust web of knowledge surrounding economic and governmental systems. Capitalism, in its purest form would require a free economy, subject to a wide variety of fluctuation (such as those that took down the stock market in the late 20s/early 30s). Since the government now regulates the flow of money, the markets, imports/exports, etc. (they have their hands in almost every pot, looking for their own handouts and setting the rules of engagement) the US economic system would best be described as a mixed system. It's free until one of the great big monopolies gets spooked by their failing business models and buys governmental intervention into their market.
In essence, this and all these "protect our intellectual property" issues are no more than corporate welfare. Just because we in the US delude ourselves into thinking our economic system is "capitalist" doesn't make it so. The way our government covertly subsidizes Boeing and the way France and the EU overtly subsidize Airbus are prime examples. Put a different label on it if you want, but it's still socialism.
One of the great things I saw on Wikipedia while looking up capitalism was:
"An essential characteristic of capitalism is the institution of rule of law in establishing and protecting private property, including, most notably, private ownership of the means of production" - not sure how to credit the intellectual property to Wikipedia, but the quote is not my original work
In other words, the rule of law, in a capitalist system, does not protect a producers means of reproduction, or the product of production.
Wouldn't that imply the ability to produce copies of property we OWN.
Slashdot Mirror
He's the only idea that I have for preventing companies (and individuals) from lobbying legislation. Change your consumer habits. In the pseudo-capitalist society the world is turning into, the only real vote we "the people" have left is through our spending habits. Since the Sony rootkit story broke, I have decided I will no longer buy a Sony product, even if the alternative is more expensive. If an alternative does not exist (yeah right), I simply will not indulge my "want". I only need food, shelter, clothing, and slashdot, so anything that falls outside that umbrella, is a "nice to have". If the company that produces it likes to screw their customers, they don't get my business.
Of course, that's the ideal. The reality is I have many products from companies that I don't agree with... Verizon is a prime example. I bought one of their Motorola e815 camera phones, under the misguided assumption that like ANY DAMN DIGITAL CAMERA, I would be able to download the pictures off the phone to my computer. I thought such a feature would be expected by any REASONABLE consumer, but no. They wanted a quarter a picture to transfer it through their "service" (now this is my intellectual property they're charging me for). So I hacked it. Well actually, I used tools developed by another fine soul, to hack it. I can now download my pictures. This is my little rebellion against the system. If Verizon wants to fine me or come after me, I WILL fight it. I know, bold words, but at least in my head it sounds great.
I am also very vocal with the people in my life that seem too lazy, apathetic, clueless or plain dumb to keep abreast of issues that affect them in the long run. Most don't listen, or don't care, but all I can take care of myself. If the world falls apart AND I did what I thought I could, I can sleep better knowing it wasn't my fault. I might have to sleep better in the Verizon Concentration Camp for Intellectual Subversives (cosponsored by Sony), but I will sleep well.
Actually no, it's not capitalism. While the integrity of Wikipedia has been called in to question as of late, they do have a fairly robust web of knowledge surrounding economic and governmental systems. Capitalism, in its purest form would require a free economy, subject to a wide variety of fluctuation (such as those that took down the stock market in the late 20s/early 30s). Since the government now regulates the flow of money, the markets, imports/exports, etc. (they have their hands in almost every pot, looking for their own handouts and setting the rules of engagement) the US economic system would best be described as a mixed system. It's free until one of the great big monopolies gets spooked by their failing business models and buys governmental intervention into their market.
In essence, this and all these "protect our intellectual property" issues are no more than corporate welfare. Just because we in the US delude ourselves into thinking our economic system is "capitalist" doesn't make it so. The way our government covertly subsidizes Boeing and the way France and the EU overtly subsidize Airbus are prime examples. Put a different label on it if you want, but it's still socialism.
One of the great things I saw on Wikipedia while looking up capitalism was:
"An essential characteristic of capitalism is the institution of rule of law in establishing and protecting private property, including, most notably, private ownership of the means of production" - not sure how to credit the intellectual property to Wikipedia, but the quote is not my original work
In other words, the rule of law, in a capitalist system, does not protect a producers means of reproduction, or the product of production.
Wouldn't that imply the ability to produce copies of property we OWN.
First post, sorry for the rant.