Central Europe Countries Continue to Oppose ACTA 111
tykev writes "The Czech government suspended the ratification process of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, ACTA, said Prime Minister Petr Necas today. The government wants to further analyze the issue. There were a number of public demonstrations against ACTA in several Czech towns, and some Czech Euro MP's oppose ACTA as being 'completely wide of the mark'. Earlier, Poland announced its intention to suspend the ratification process as well. In the meantime, the website of the ruling Czech Civic Democratic Party was attacked and defaced by Anonymous who also publicly released personal data of the party's members."
Futile (Score:5, Insightful)
If all we do is oppose, then some battles we'll win, others we'll lose, but the front line is only going to tighten around us until we are nothing but obedient corporate servants. What we need to do is strike back at the politicians and remind them that they are serving the interests of all the population, and not the interest of special groups who would like the free market to bend down for them and give them money just because they feel they're entitled to it.
What's the point? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Futile (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:There's still some hope. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Futile (Score:5, Insightful)
One nice thing about Europe is that representatives of independent countries often vote independently. Unlike in the U.S.A., where members of congress are supposed to vote for their district or state's interests, but instead just go with whatever corporation or national lobby promises the most money. (This reminds me that I need to order fresh flowers for the 10th amendment's grave.)
Re:There's still some hope. (Score:5, Insightful)
It's neither. A population can take a lot, but only so much. It's when the last straw snaps that people are willing to die to overthrow their government in protest.
It's only a matter of time before terrorism will be practised by western people against the west and not just by some random extremist nutcase-organisations.
There maybe enough laws, technology, police and military personel, but they are all outnumbered once an entire population sais "Fsck it! I'm not taking this shit any longer!" and then the shit hits the fan, at 100.000 miles/hour.
Re:Futile (Score:5, Insightful)
One nice thing about Europe is that representatives of independent countries often vote independently. Unlike in the U.S.A., where members of congress are supposed to vote for their district or state's interests, but instead just go with whatever corporation or national lobby promises the most money. (This reminds me that I need to order fresh flowers for the 10th amendment's grave.)
Actually, I'm deeply suspicious that it is yet another "more bribes, please" situation for our politicians. :/
Re:Futile (Score:5, Insightful)
They say that the best defence is an offence. Why not go on the a counter-attack. Let's make Internet access, or simply access to adequate telecommunication, a fundamental human right. This would protect net-neutrality and work against arbitrary disconnection laws.
Re:There's still some hope. (Score:4, Insightful)
People haven't changed. When soldiers have to make the decision to shoot relatives (brothers, sisters, grandma, mom) many will reside with the population. That is when governments fall.
Re:Futile (Score:2, Insightful)
I do agree with you though, it should not be a right. It should however be free from any one governments influence. That's not what it was created for.
Re:EU Parliament is pretty cool (Score:5, Insightful)
Because the EU Commission can continue to draft and negotiate ACTA for as long as they like, but ultimately they have to put it to the EU Parliament to vote on before it can become law. There are a couple of things they can try if the Parliament rejects it, but those can still be vetoed by a 2/3rds majority of the Parliament and history has shown that they generally don't like it when the Commission tries to do an end-run around them.
Re:There's still some hope. (Score:3, Insightful)
One of the reasons the US grew so powerful was its blatant disregard for intellectual property in the old world. And now, many years later, as the US is in decline, guess which other growing nation doesn't give a flying fuck about what the US thinks about intellectual property.
I guess 50 years from now the US and Europe will be on the same side trying to fight off Intellectual Property laws being crammed down our throats by the Chinese. Assuming, of course, they need to resort to such silly things as laws to make their point and don't just call in their loans.
Re:Futile (Score:5, Insightful)
You DON'T pay for it. The people of Saskatchewan did.
But why should the Saskatchewan city dwellers pay?
So the farmers can produce food.
So the farmers can live like human beings.
So the small towns can be home to small businesses instead of congesting everything in the cities.
So the farmers can run the equipment they need to do the job.
But you don't really care about that, do you? Well, good luck surviving in the cities without food if the farmers all go belly up because they can't use the internet to sell their crops, find parts, locate equipment, review new equipment, etc.
THAT's why you shouldn't be a selfish, navel-gazing jerk about subsidizing rural development.