Another Stab At a Canadian DMCA 237
whisper_jeff writes "News has come out that Prime Minister Stephen Harper is planning on bringing the DMCA to Canada. As a Canadian, this disgusts me. Watching Harper sell out Canadians in favour of US lobby groups is an affront. I am hopeful that enough Canadians write to Harper and their MPs to voice their disapproval of this effort."
Been waiting... (Score:2, Insightful)
I'm quite disgusted also. I've been emailing the office of the prime minister for over two months in regards to the ACTA. It is quite pathetic they cannot even take the time to address an issue in the active public eye. Even a generic spin would be nice. All I've been asking for is some information on the stance of my own government.
We as Canadians should lobby. This is a disgust that the Harper government is not taking into account the will of the people whatsoever.
Sell-out (Score:5, Insightful)
Watching Harper sell out Canadians in favour of US lobby groups is an affront.
If it makes you feel any better, watching our own Congress sell out all of us who live in the United States to US lobby groups was just as bad.
Ok, really? (Score:5, Insightful)
The DMCA hinders education, harms jobs and makes developing in China and India even better. Why Canada would even consider such a terrible piece of legislation is beyond me.
Re:Perhaps you should check your priorities... (Score:1, Insightful)
Typically moreso than American
Re:Ok, really? (Score:5, Insightful)
Considering we have strict copyright laws already in existence and a levy system on most blank media. This is stupid, idiotic, and removes the right that you "own" a device. And I'm a member of the CPC who votes at delegate conventions. I guess it's physical letter writing time to my MP and others again, along with some other things.
Re:Another Stab At a Canadian DMCA (Score:5, Insightful)
He does not represent me, or anyone I know.
I think it is time for a revolution.
Re:Another Stab At a Canadian DMCA (Score:5, Insightful)
It's got to suck to see all of those "Canada is a US state/protectorate/pawn" digs gain traction, eh?
I'm surprised this hasn't become a huge political liability for him. Wouldn't it take just one commercial showing how he bends the country over for his "American corporate masters" to get him out of office?
Canada, you're supposed to be the sane one in this relationship. Don't make us hit you.
Re:Another Stab At a Canadian DMCA (Score:2, Insightful)
The Deal Is Done (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Been waiting... (Score:4, Insightful)
What we're witnessing, I fear, is the broadcast model of government: You and your country's wealth are the product, to be sold to the highest bidding corporation(s). We've had this system in the USA for quite some time, and it's been great for the Corporations.
Re:Another Stab At a Canadian DMCA (Score:5, Insightful)
Canada already has a minority government and the alternative, a Liberal government, would be no better. Canadians already know this and this why the Tories they have been elected multiple times. The last time the Libs threatened a vote of no confidence they dropped in the polls to a near-record low. Canadians are sick of expensive elections too close together, and minority governments that only last six months.
If anybody actually thinks that putting the Liberals in power will really change anything, they are just fooling themselves. They would just cripple the armed forces then end up doing exactly the same thing the Tories are doing now with copyright law.
Re:Another Stab At a Canadian DMCA (Score:3, Insightful)
Since you have a British-style parliament, aren't you able to do things like votes of no confidence to get rid of a PM (or any MP, for that matter)?
No confidence would bring down the government. Then there would be an election, and because the left is split and Canadians collectively are too daft to vote strategically, even though the Conservatives only have 34% support last poll I looked at, they'd still get the most votes and we'd be right back where we are now.
What's required isn't a revolution, but a coalition such as that proposed after the last election. But the Liberals backed down. It's not difficult to see why they are so unpopular. A coalition would have represented the will of the Canadian people, the majority of which voted left of centre. The sooner the Liberal party gets rid of Ignatieff and replaces him with someone with some backbone, the better it will be for both the Liberals and the people of Canada.
Re:Another Stab At a Canadian DMCA (Score:4, Insightful)
I can not think of one that would be out of place working on a seedy used car lot.
Re:Canada...an incredible country (Score:1, Insightful)
Obviously, the right to publicly hate on minorities (or majorities) is totally awesome! I love societies where you're allowed to publicly insight violence by repeatedly loudly shouting shit like: "Blacks are are lazy bums that cause all our problems"
and "Jews own the banks and they caused the GFC (The blacks told them to do it)" that kind of stuff should TOTALLY be legal!!
I wouldn't want to live in a country where I couldn't say that!!
PS. I live in Australia. Seriously, getting busted for hate speech is hard. You *really* have to go all out and say some pretty ridiculous shit. And you have to say it a lot. You probably have to have it recorded on video too. And someone has to get offended and actually report it.
Re:Another Stab At a Canadian DMCA (Score:2, Insightful)
I think it is time for a revolution.
Oh please! Why don't you count the votes first? He didn't force his way in.. unless the CIA was somehow behind it
Re:Another Stab At a Canadian DMCA (Score:1, Insightful)
"Canada already has a minority government and the alternative, a Liberal government, would be no better."
Honestly, I don't particularly care which party is in power at this point, as long as they continue to be a minority government, because it makes the politicians more accountable than usual. They neither want to trigger an election nor pass legislation that too many people oppose. It's great because they have to pay attention to public opinion and they have to get along in parliament, otherwise we'll take it out on them at the polls.
Had it been a majority government any time in the last 5 years we'd already have DMCA-style copyright law in Canada.
Re:Another Stab At a Canadian DMCA (Score:3, Insightful)
You know what? Harper only represents two groups:
1) the members of his riding
2) the members of his caucus
Canada isn't the US -- we don't elect the Prime Minister; the other Ministers do. Until they elect him, he only represents his local riding.
What this means though, is that if enough elected representatives feel he has to go, they can get rid of him. So, if enough Canadians contact their representatives letting them know that this is the will of the people, they'll get rid of him and elect someone else to lead the cause....
oh well.
Re:Canada...an incredible country (Score:4, Insightful)
Yes, actually, it is. Now that doesn't mean actually doing it is awesome, or that I in any way agree with doing such a thing. In fact, most people find such speech highly offensive (and that includes many who are not members of the minority in question).
However, it means I can also say things, without worrying if people find them offensive. I can say "Religions are fairy tales for adults" or "The last president was a sack of shit and this one's only marginally better if at all" or "I wish all corporations larger than a certain size would be broken up". I cannot be prosecuted for saying any of those things, even though there are people who will strongly dislike each of those statements.
In exchange for that right, I'll gladly accept a few idiots wearing their white hoods and going around spouting crap. If anything, that educates the public on just how ridiculous and ignorant those people are. And a lot of people exercise the right they do have in that scenario-to point out just how stupid it is.
Re:Another Stab At a Canadian DMCA (Score:5, Insightful)
The digital rights issues are of course a concern, but more is what has led to them: a government that panders to american politics, policies and worst of all american lobbyists (it's bad enough having to worry about our own lobby groups).
Another huge irk is when the conservatives brought up same sex marriage. We already did that one and decided on equal rights. Canada is supposed to be progressive and diverse (of course what do you expect from a group that calls themselve conservatives). In my experience Canada has been extremely good at recognizing the diversity of its citizens and making sure we all have equal rights (regardless of ethnicity, religion or even sexual orientation). In light of that the action of the Conservative party appears very un-canadian.
We definitely need more people out voting and we need the smaller parties to get more traction (such as the Green party, which is basically a throw away vote at this time). Don't even get me started on the provincial government and the HST they are shoving down our throats. Yes, we may need more tax revenue, but the way they went about it was all wrong.
Re:Another Stab At a Canadian DMCA (Score:5, Insightful)
Can you think of a country where the leader genuinely does nowadays? Governments stopped serving the people years ago. Give yourself a couple years after any replacement and you'll feel the exact same way, even if you voted them in.
It's not the public figure you're really angry with though, it's the ones pulling its strings. And guess what, you can't vote those in or out of where they stand. You honestly think Harper has any deep ideological views towards copyrights? He's just doing what he'll gain most from on a personal level.
You want things to change, shine a light on them like Michael Geist is doing. That's a principle you can apply to just about everything that's wrong with the way we are governed too.
Re:Canada...an incredible country (Score:5, Insightful)
Yeah..but if you go up there and and say publicly that "I think [insert racial, sexual orientation, etc type slang] suck" and you can actually get busted for "hate speech".
No you can't.
Hate speech requires that you make actual threats against a given group. In fact, even saying 'All ${FOO}s should die!' isn't enough to get you busted. It has to be clear that you are actually advocating for their collective demise. You could even say, 'I'm going to kill that ${FOO} right now!' and not be guilty of hate speech, because your hatred was aimed at an individual whom you incidentally were calling names.
But way, way before you get to the point of being arrested, you'll be shunned for being the bigot that you are, if you don't get punched in the face for your efforts. See, we Canadians value free speech so much that we try[*] to be polite and respectful when we use it.
If you want to be a know-nothing, racist fuckwit in Canada, you can. But it'll be a pretty lonely existence.
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[*] All bets are off at a hockey game.
If at first you don't succeed... (Score:3, Insightful)
Sometimes I just hate the world we live in.
Re:Another Stab At a Canadian DMCA (Score:3, Insightful)
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/afghanistan/casualties/list.html [www.cbc.ca]
Re:Another Stab At a Canadian DMCA (Score:1, Insightful)
Can you think of a country where the leader genuinely does nowadays? Governments stopped serving the people years ago. Give yourself a couple years after any replacement and you'll feel the exact same way, even if you voted them in.
When did they ever serve the people? Or, depending on your POV, when did they ever not serve the people? Governments haven't really changed. They're the same as they've always been. It's inherent in the species to think we live in extraordinary times, but we really don't. Current politics is as ordinary as it gets. You could have witnessed much the same (or worse!) in the 1800's.