Re: [OT] The record industry, RIAA and US law
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Celejar wrote:
> On Tue, 08 May 2007 22:07:52 +0200
> Joe Hart <j.hart@orange.nl> wrote:
>
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>> Curt Howland wrote:
> [snip]
>
>>> The Democrats have held a majority in Congress for 182 days. I stopped
>>> holding my breath a long time ago.
>>>
>>> It doesn't take being an anarchist to know that there isn't any
>>> difference between "Republican" and "Democrat". It's all just
>>> carefully crafted false ideologies designed to "divide and conquer".
>>>
>>> I wouldn't trust any professional politician to change my tire without
>>> trying to steal the lug nuts, regardless of party or nationality.
>>>
>>> Daniel Webster - "In every generation, there are those who want to
>>> rule well - but they mean to rule. They promise to be good masters -
>>> but they mean to be masters."
>>>
>>> Why is the RIAA still able to get away with their fear tactics?
>>> Because they know who to bribe. Centralized power creates a "target
>>> of opportunity" for corruption. Europe is learning this the hard way
>>> now, too.
>>>
>> Yes, I agree with you. One of the reasons I am no longer in the United
>> States, although it isn't the main reason. I live in a country that
>> still maintains some bit of freedom, although that is eroding thanks to
>> the EU. I voted no to the EU Constitution, as did the majority of the
I am talking about Germany, but for what I say, there is not much
difference between Germany and the Netherlands. On details, I would say
that the Netherlands are more liberal than Germany.
> I don't know much about the Netherlands' laws, but you are stating that
> there's substantially more freedom there than in the USA. Can you give
> examples?
Lots.
> Whose gun control laws are stricter?
Europe's. But despite all the big claims, 'guns to everyone' has nothing
to do with freedom. It gives the freedom to kill others to people, but
it is far better not to give that freedom and have less people killed,
like in Germany/EU. The people who get killed due to 'too many guns
around' loose all their freedom and more.
Even the police and military have less 'freedom' to use guns in Germany
as compared to the US. Again that's a good thing.
> Which country has
> stronger protections for freedom of speech?
Arguably, Germany. The only exception to this rule is that it is illegal
in Germany to tell lies about the Nazis. It is also illegal to tell
offending lies about other people. But this is actually protects the
freedom of others.
Also, no Western-German or unified German government after WWII has ever
carried people to offshore islands, denying any rights for legal counsel
or legal defence. As said above, government, police, military have less
powers in Germany to take freedom away from people.
> As I said, I don't know
> much about the Netherlands' legal climate, but I'm surprised to hear
> that it's a much freer country. I have heard that they're more tolerant
> WRT moral issues, such as euthanasia, drugs and prostitution. Is that
> what you mean? What about economic freedom? One way or another, I'm
> genuinely curious to see a comparison of the two countries' respective
> freedoms.
What do you mean by economic freedom? If you are talking about the
ability of companies to sack people in order to save their salary, then
the US is indeed more liberal.
If you are talking about the freedom to copy a CD you bought to a
cassette in order to play it on your 10 year old car's stereo that won't
play CDs, than Germany has more freedom. Many of the EULA clauses
limiting your rights are void in Germany. (Of course that implies that
companies have less freedom to hassle their customers).
If you are talking about the possibility of using 'one-click' buttons on
your web site without fear of patent infringement, then Europe has more
freedom.
Johannes
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