This bounced on the first try, so I am resending it.
On Wed, 2 Aug 2006, Gavin Baker wrote:
> > Actually, we have had a 'Pirate Party' here for 30 years, only we call
ourselves "Libertarians". The overhaul or outright distruction of of the
copyright & patent systems are one of the 'long-term' goals of the party.
Wake up kids, I'm over thirty now and have been a Lib for most of my adult
life.
> Interesting, I don't seem to see this in the platform. Links?
It was there for a long time, but this year the National Party Convention
decided to reduce the number of party 'platform' issues. It looks like
this is one that was cut, presumably because it could sound anti-business
to some. Libs are not opposed to business, but oppose the current IP
regime because it is effectively a monopoly lock on information. The
Library of Congress was founded to help maintain a balance between these
'time limited monopolies' and the public good. It hasn't worked. So if it
cannot work, a lib would generally prefer deregulation to attempting an
unfixable system. Libs tend to be 'all or nothing' so, in politics, this
usually means we get nothing. The party leadership is currently trying
to reforge the party as something more inclined to accept a middle ground.
For this reason, I presume, IP reform is not high on the priority list
right now. Yet, a large percentage of libertarians do use FOSS and
support free & open content. Deep down, libs & greens have a lot in
common, as in my university days I was a Green leaning Democrat myself.
The differ mostly with *how* certain issues can be changed, yet the end
goal remains the same. For example, at their core Greens are strongly for
environmental reform. Although not as high on the list, so are Libs.
However Greens believe the greater government regulation is the answer to
the public woes, where Libs believe that increased regulation is *almost*
never an answer to any public issue.
Creighton
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