Because there is only one of two possible outcomes: EVERYONE wins, or NOBODY wins. Politicians want to make it so that THEY ALWAYS win at everyone else's expense.
"One of the reasons we got compromised health care reform, instead of a public option, was that the public was lied to by the political right."
I'm not going to sit here and try to absolve Republicans of any wrong doing, but if you think the left ISN'T lying to, you need to wake up and smell the bullshit.
"If Obama had used the bully pulpit from the beginning"
So it's APPROPRIATE for the government to bully the general public?!?!?!?!
"to inform the public, so that they understood reform"
Really? If you need someone to tell you what to think and how to think on the issues, I feel sorry for you.
"we wouldn't have ended up with a bill that is a gift to the insurance industry."
A gift, eh? If you think that completely eliminating your source of income by force is a gift, then please send me ALL of your money. After all, by your logic, I'm doing you a favor.
"Button A: Cut Spending...It seems to me like drug addiction is an extremely befitting metaphor for the problem with politicians"
Indeed. It's not that balancing the budget is difficult, it's that balancing a budget where politicians DON'T make ludicrous profits is difficult. Anyone who's ever been in debt knows that you don't get out of debt by buying a brand new stretched SUV limo every year; you get out of debt by STOPPING SPENDING!
With the elections coming up, if YOU vote FOR anyone who DOES NOT specifically advocate that, then YOU are an idiot.
" we should be able to afford mathematicians and economists who could do this "
They're already on the payroll. The problem is that were hired to make a budget that matches current spending levels, instead of creating a budget and telling Congress to match their spending levels to the budget.
Welcome to the US, where we used to do things different than the UK just because it's the way the UK did it (e.g. spelling "gray" vice "grey"), but where we now screw things up in the same fashion and claim it's the new, improved method.
So the way I understand this discussion is that those of you in the US are upset about this sort of thing happening, regardless of where, right?
Yeah cuz that doesn't EVER happen here...
:::cough:healthcare:cough:::
Oh sure, that had TONS of "debate"....
Debate:a discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints
Discussion: an act or instance of discussing; consideration or examination by argument, comment, etc., esp. to explore solutions
Every video clip I've seen has just been of Pelosi or some other progressive mocking Republicans and threatening Democrats who were against it.
I don't mean to imply that these things happening in UK's Parliament are unimportant, quite the opposite. What I'm saying is that if you're going to complain about it happening overseas, complain about it happening here, too.
Ya missed the point. The point is to find out if, given a PROPOSED patent, those in the field find it "obvious" to do it that way; if yes, the innovation is bunk; if no, consider granting the patent.
"If they use two completely different approaches", but neither of them is the proposed patent, then grant it.
"If they use two completely different approaches", and at least one of them is the proposed patent, consider NOT granting it.
One of the best such pranks to which I've been witness was while I was aboard USS HAWES. Just prior to pulling into a liberty port someone started spreading a rumor that Shakira was performing there. Within hours it had spread throughout the ship as "fact".
Sometimes, it's just someone trying to see how far a rumor will go before it's quashed.
"where's the incentive and income to develop further?"
There are only TWO certainties that never (significantly) change no matter what happens, or where people are living:
1) People need water
2) People die
Why did I not include food or birth? Because those needs significantly change from place to place, and VERY rapidly.
So unless you sell water or death-related services, you MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST constantly strive to improve your product.
P.S. even water has become a booming business lately, so that is beginning to go the way of food-related needs.
"Same as some Asshole selling copies of copyrighted movies/CD's at Times Square in NYC. No investment, just burn and turn....."
NOT the same. To produce a generic drug, as you accurately pointed, there are no R&D costs, so your overhead is much cheaper, etc. However, there must still be some differences, however slight. Thus, that product is now YOURS. An exact duplicate is not yours. Which is what I believe was the ORIGINAL INTENT of copyright/patent laws.
Also, as the cartoon points out, if you try to copy someone who is already up on the game, you can only copy what they've already done. You cannot copy what they're GOING to do, "which is unknowable". Thus, you must have a RTB your product; usually that means making your product somehow BETTER and not just a copy, "which is stupid".
On the post: Steve Ballmer Tasked With Fixing The Deficit -- With A Video Game
Re:
On the post: Steve Ballmer Tasked With Fixing The Deficit -- With A Video Game
Re: re
I'm not going to sit here and try to absolve Republicans of any wrong doing, but if you think the left ISN'T lying to, you need to wake up and smell the bullshit.
"If Obama had used the bully pulpit from the beginning"
So it's APPROPRIATE for the government to bully the general public?!?!?!?!
"to inform the public, so that they understood reform"
Really? If you need someone to tell you what to think and how to think on the issues, I feel sorry for you.
"we wouldn't have ended up with a bill that is a gift to the insurance industry."
A gift, eh? If you think that completely eliminating your source of income by force is a gift, then please send me ALL of your money. After all, by your logic, I'm doing you a favor.
On the post: Steve Ballmer Tasked With Fixing The Deficit -- With A Video Game
Re:
Barack Obama: "Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket."
Yeah cuz we all want prices to go up. Great job voters!
On the post: Steve Ballmer Tasked With Fixing The Deficit -- With A Video Game
Re: Re: I can't wait for version 3.0
On the post: Steve Ballmer Tasked With Fixing The Deficit -- With A Video Game
Re: I can't wait for version 3.0
"Button A: Cut Spending...It seems to me like drug addiction is an extremely befitting metaphor for the problem with politicians"
Indeed. It's not that balancing the budget is difficult, it's that balancing a budget where politicians DON'T make ludicrous profits is difficult. Anyone who's ever been in debt knows that you don't get out of debt by buying a brand new stretched SUV limo every year; you get out of debt by STOPPING SPENDING!
With the elections coming up, if YOU vote FOR anyone who DOES NOT specifically advocate that, then YOU are an idiot.
On the post: Steve Ballmer Tasked With Fixing The Deficit -- With A Video Game
Re: Re: Button Masher
apparently you haven't been watching the news for the past, oh, 10 years or so; specific attention on the past week.
On the post: Steve Ballmer Tasked With Fixing The Deficit -- With A Video Game
Re: Re:
They're already on the payroll. The problem is that were hired to make a budget that matches current spending levels, instead of creating a budget and telling Congress to match their spending levels to the budget.
On the post: Publisher Warns Fans That Liking A Book Too Much May Be Illegal
Re: How is this a violation of copyright law?
On the post: Juliet vs. Juliet: Did Someone Forget To Tell Hollywood You Can't Copyright An Idea?
Re: Contrary to popular opinion, this IS good.
On the post: Digital Economy Bill Shoved Through With Minor Modifications
Re:
On the post: Can You Patent Pretending To Let Customers Know Their Online Ordered Pizza Is In The Oven?
Re: Excuse me?
Isn't that the [new] American way??
On the post: Digital Economy Bill Shoved Through With Minor Modifications
Wait....
Yeah cuz that doesn't EVER happen here...
:::cough:healthcare:cough:::
Oh sure, that had TONS of "debate"....
Debate:a discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints
Discussion: an act or instance of discussing; consideration or examination by argument, comment, etc., esp. to explore solutions
Every video clip I've seen has just been of Pelosi or some other progressive mocking Republicans and threatening Democrats who were against it.
I don't mean to imply that these things happening in UK's Parliament are unimportant, quite the opposite. What I'm saying is that if you're going to complain about it happening overseas, complain about it happening here, too.
On the post: Could You Save Software Patents With A Special Team Of 'Obviousness' Developers?
Re: Flawed but in the right direction.
On the post: Could You Save Software Patents With A Special Team Of 'Obviousness' Developers?
Re: How exact are we talking?
"If they use two completely different approaches", but neither of them is the proposed patent, then grant it.
"If they use two completely different approaches", and at least one of them is the proposed patent, consider NOT granting it.
On the post: NYTimes Ethicist: Not Unethical To Download Unauthorized Copy Of Physical Book You Own
Re:
On the post: NYTimes Ethicist: Not Unethical To Download Unauthorized Copy Of Physical Book You Own
Why??!?!
WHO CARES???
I'm honestly surprised the debate has gone this way. How's about we get back on track:
Regardless of his analogy, is Mr. Cohen's statement correct?
On the post: Who's Behind The False Rumors That Facebook Might Start Charging?
Re:
On the post: Who's Behind The False Rumors That Facebook Might Start Charging?
Shakira???
Sometimes, it's just someone trying to see how far a rumor will go before it's quashed.
On the post: Dilbert Explains Why Just Copying Others Is A Dumb Business Model
Re:
There are only TWO certainties that never (significantly) change no matter what happens, or where people are living:
1) People need water
2) People die
Why did I not include food or birth? Because those needs significantly change from place to place, and VERY rapidly.
So unless you sell water or death-related services, you MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST constantly strive to improve your product.
P.S. even water has become a booming business lately, so that is beginning to go the way of food-related needs.
On the post: Dilbert Explains Why Just Copying Others Is A Dumb Business Model
Re: Another lovely from Mike
NOT the same. To produce a generic drug, as you accurately pointed, there are no R&D costs, so your overhead is much cheaper, etc. However, there must still be some differences, however slight. Thus, that product is now YOURS. An exact duplicate is not yours. Which is what I believe was the ORIGINAL INTENT of copyright/patent laws.
Also, as the cartoon points out, if you try to copy someone who is already up on the game, you can only copy what they've already done. You cannot copy what they're GOING to do, "which is unknowable". Thus, you must have a RTB your product; usually that means making your product somehow BETTER and not just a copy, "which is stupid".
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