But I disagree re Citizens United. I support free speech. More speech is always better.
As you point out yourself, Sheldon Adelson and Mitt Romney, despite their billions, were unable to make the sale to the American public.
The problem is not "too much speech" or "too much money buying ads". Speech and ads can only make a case to the voters - but it can't make people accept the argument.
The problem is rigging the results of the election.
Re: We do not have a general right to experimentation.
I don't want to go too deep down the philosophical rathole, but in my view people have the *right* to do *anything* that does not infringe on the equal rights of others, or pose unreasonable risk of doing so.
There may be experiments that by their nature will infringe on the rights of others, or pose risk of doing so - if I want to "experiment" with nuclear weapons in my backyard, I think it's fair to say my neighbors' rights may be infringed.
But in general if we believe that people should be free, then they have the *right* to *anything*, including any and all experiments.
Provided those actions don't infringe, or pose a reasonable risk of infringing, the equal rights of others.
(Yes, I'm well aware there are many who *do not* think people should be free.)
But most (> 50%) positions don't get filled via HR departments; they get filled based on personal connections - somebody knows somebody they used to work with, who was good...
In those (majority) of cases, the HR paperwork happens after the hiring decision is already made.
Certifications and degrees are useful mainly to young people at the start of their career, when they have no reputation and nobody knows them.
Once the "foot is in the door", they carry little weight.
I'm a big fan of apprenticeships and the like as an alternative to college.
Unfortunately there is a big push these days to basically outlaw these by aggressive enforcement of minimum wage laws.
You don't need college for most software engineering positions either, or many electrical engineering positions.
But you do need experience, knowledge, and ability.
There are many ways to acquire experience and knowledge; college is just one (rather expensive) way.
Ability is inborn - no amount of schooling will give you that.
But formal education is a win for those who are not natural students - people who won't learn unless someone else teaches. A lot of people are like that; maybe most.
Many sincere free traders are in favor of the TPP because they think it really promotes free trade.
Maybe that includes the Washington Post editorial board.
Not everyone has been paying attention to the leaks. Based on those it's clear there is a lot of special interest thievery in there, esp. regarding "intellectual property".
Maybe there's also some genuine free trade stuff in there. Maybe not. It's a secret what's in there so we can't tell.
The secrecy was deemed necessary as a way of end-running protectionist special interests. And the ISDS stuff could, maybe, really promote free trade - there are plenty of places with protectionism disguised as legitimate regulation.
The leaks so far seem to indicate the worst.
Have our nominated delegates negotiated a free trade agreement, or have they faithlessly been corrupted by special interests?
Until we can see what's in there, I'm assuming the public has been screwed. Because that's usually what happens when nobody is watching. But I hope I'm wrong.
"Now, it’s perfectly rational for them to say, we’re not going to declassify everything that gets leaked because otherwise we’re letting someone else decide what’s classified and what’s not."
But in that case someone else has already decided what's classified and what's not.
To pretend otherwise is to deny reality. Not a good strategy for anyone with actual opponents.
So the blueprints were not copied, yet there was copyright infringement? I don't get it.
Under US law, I don't think one could make a successful copyright claim in this case - the blueprints weren't copied at all (the builder re-used the same blueprints).
If the architect had filed for a design patent then he'd probably have a case.
If he's served out his sentence, he deserves to be reintegrated and have full rights.
But just because he has full rights doesn't mean people oughtn't take into account the fact that he was convicted of fraud and his current attitude about it.
To my mind, attempting to make that fact *disappear* indicates that he hasn't yet accepted that he did wrong and was justly punished for it.
Which seems to me currently relevant to trusting Mr. Goolnik.
It's one thing if a ex-con says "I did wrong, I acknowledge it, I'm sorry". I might give that guy a chance.
But if he says "conviction? what conviction?", I know he hasn't given up his evil ways.
On the post: Larry Lessig Dumps His Promise To Resign The Presidency In An Attempt To Get People To Take His Campaign Seriously
Re: Money Doesn't Always Win
But I disagree re Citizens United. I support free speech. More speech is always better.
As you point out yourself, Sheldon Adelson and Mitt Romney, despite their billions, were unable to make the sale to the American public.
The problem is not "too much speech" or "too much money buying ads". Speech and ads can only make a case to the voters - but it can't make people accept the argument.
The problem is rigging the results of the election.
On the post: 'There Is No Human Right To Patent Protection' -- UN Special Rapporteur
Re: We do not have a general right to experimentation.
There may be experiments that by their nature will infringe on the rights of others, or pose risk of doing so - if I want to "experiment" with nuclear weapons in my backyard, I think it's fair to say my neighbors' rights may be infringed.
But in general if we believe that people should be free, then they have the *right* to *anything*, including any and all experiments.
Provided those actions don't infringe, or pose a reasonable risk of infringing, the equal rights of others.
(Yes, I'm well aware there are many who *do not* think people should be free.)
On the post: DailyDirt: Which College Is The Best?
Re: Re: Not buying it
In those (majority) of cases, the HR paperwork happens after the hiring decision is already made.
Certifications and degrees are useful mainly to young people at the start of their career, when they have no reputation and nobody knows them.
Once the "foot is in the door", they carry little weight.
I'm a big fan of apprenticeships and the like as an alternative to college.
Unfortunately there is a big push these days to basically outlaw these by aggressive enforcement of minimum wage laws.
On the post: DailyDirt: Which College Is The Best?
Re: Not buying it
But you do need experience, knowledge, and ability.
There are many ways to acquire experience and knowledge; college is just one (rather expensive) way.
Ability is inborn - no amount of schooling will give you that.
But formal education is a win for those who are not natural students - people who won't learn unless someone else teaches. A lot of people are like that; maybe most.
On the post: Once More: The TPP Agreement Is Not A Free Trade Agreement, It's A Protectionist Anti-Free Trade Agreement
Re: Re:
On the post: Once More: The TPP Agreement Is Not A Free Trade Agreement, It's A Protectionist Anti-Free Trade Agreement
It's hard to tell
Maybe that includes the Washington Post editorial board.
Not everyone has been paying attention to the leaks. Based on those it's clear there is a lot of special interest thievery in there, esp. regarding "intellectual property".
Maybe there's also some genuine free trade stuff in there. Maybe not. It's a secret what's in there so we can't tell.
The secrecy was deemed necessary as a way of end-running protectionist special interests. And the ISDS stuff could, maybe, really promote free trade - there are plenty of places with protectionism disguised as legitimate regulation.
The leaks so far seem to indicate the worst.
Have our nominated delegates negotiated a free trade agreement, or have they faithlessly been corrupted by special interests?
Until we can see what's in there, I'm assuming the public has been screwed. Because that's usually what happens when nobody is watching. But I hope I'm wrong.
On the post: Purdue University Completely Freaks Out Because Bart Gellman's Speech Shows Classified Snowden Docs Already Seen By Millions
Perfectly rational? Not.
But in that case someone else has already decided what's classified and what's not.
To pretend otherwise is to deny reality. Not a good strategy for anyone with actual opponents.
On the post: Former NSA Directors Coming Out Strongly *Against* Backdooring Encryption
Re: Hayden and Chertoff
[Mike: "Booz", not "Bozz".]
On the post: Homeland Security Detains Stockton Mayor, Forces Him To Hand Over His Passwords
What about cloud storage?
Can US Customs demand my Google password, and "not let me leave the airport" until I provide it?
Anybody know the law on this?
On the post: Homeland Security Detains Stockton Mayor, Forces Him To Hand Over His Passwords
Re:
On the post: FTC Finally Goes After Roca Labs For Its Sketchy 'Weight Loss' Scheme & Misleading Promotions
This is way, way overdue
And this is a perfect example of it. Why has it taken this long for the FTC to prosecute?
On my blog: Capitalists suck donkey balls
On the post: FTC Finally Goes After Roca Labs For Its Sketchy 'Weight Loss' Scheme & Misleading Promotions
Re: First Amendment
But it DOES NOT cover common-law fraud, which is what we're dealing with here.
On the post: Federal Judge: Profanely Insulting An Entire Town On A Speeding Ticket Is Protected Speech
FWIW, Liberty NY is a pretty famous speed trap town
On the post: No Library For You: French Authorities Threatening To Close An App That Lets People Share Physical Books
What is it about people today that makes them freak out about "free"?
You can't MAKE A LIVING competing with FREE!!!!
ONLY the RICH, who DON'T NEED TO MAKE A LIVING, can offer things fREE!! They PUT EVERYONE ELSE OUT OF BUSINESS, and on the DOLE!!
CAN'T YOU SEE that RICH PEOPLE'S generosity and charity leads DIRECTLY to POVERTY AND DESTITUTION?!!?!??
/sarc
[Google's business model can't possibly work.]
On the post: Australian Court Orders Homeowners To Physically Alter Exterior Of 'Infringing' House
Design patent vs. copyright
Under US law, I don't think one could make a successful copyright claim in this case - the blueprints weren't copied at all (the builder re-used the same blueprints).
If the architect had filed for a design patent then he'd probably have a case.
Maybe Australian law is different.
On the post: The Crazy Permission-Asking Media Scrum That Descends When Photographic News Happens On Twitter
Re: Re: Re: Respect
On the post: The Crazy Permission-Asking Media Scrum That Descends When Photographic News Happens On Twitter
Respect
That's all that ought to be needed or expected.
Once somebody posts something publicly, its....public.
On the post: Burning Man Threatens Quizno's For 'Theft Of Intellectual Property' Because Of A Quizno's Ad Mocking Burning Man
Makes me want run out and buy a delicious Quiznos sub
It's truly other worldly. Worth a visit.
On the post: Thomas Goolnik Really Wants To Be Forgotten: Google Disappears Our Post About His Right To Be Forgotten Request
Re: Re: convicted due to fraud
But just because he has full rights doesn't mean people oughtn't take into account the fact that he was convicted of fraud and his current attitude about it.
To my mind, attempting to make that fact *disappear* indicates that he hasn't yet accepted that he did wrong and was justly punished for it.
Which seems to me currently relevant to trusting Mr. Goolnik.
It's one thing if a ex-con says "I did wrong, I acknowledge it, I'm sorry". I might give that guy a chance.
But if he says "conviction? what conviction?", I know he hasn't given up his evil ways.
On the post: Sexting Teen Charged With Sexually Exploiting Himself
Re: Do you believe that the proliferation of child pornography is not a problem?
The *proliferation* is illegal only as an attempt to discourage the *creation*.
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