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Whatever this supposed "we" collectively did, it's still a linkbait title. Sure the buck stops at the president's office, but you can't say that person X suppor

Whatever this supposed "we" collectively did, it's still a linkbait title. Sure the buck stops at the president's office, but you can't say that person X supports some very specific activity unless they come right out and say it. However it is certainly fair comment to say that Obama, by appointing industry lawyers, has given tacit endorsement to the industry stance of harsh penalties.

mschy 17y ago
it is certainly fair comment to say that Obama, by appointing industry lawyers, has given tacit endorsement to the industry stance of harsh penalties. No, it isn't. If I know that X laws need reform, I'll hire lawyers who are very familiar with X laws to review possible changes, their effects, and how they would use those laws, to try to avoid making a bad situation worse. On the flip side, if I want X laws strengthened, I'd still hire lawyers who are familiar with X laws, to figure out how to make them stronger, and plug the holes. As such, I'd contend that Obama's hiring of lawyers who specialized in IP tells us only that his administration is interested in gaining expertise in the application of IP law. That said, I tend to be a lot less outraged about politics than other HN'ers.
roc 17y ago
So you're arguing that maybe he just doesn't care about the issue or the case? That's the defense? "No no, he doesn't support it. He's merely so disinterested in the situation that he doesn't have any idea, or interest in, the position his administration is taking on his behalf."
- GiraffeNecktie 17y ago
  The administration does not take positions "on behalf" of the president. Obama is not the administration nor is the administration some kind of perfect reflection in every detail of Obama's innermost thoughts and desires. And verily it is possible that a sparrow falls from heaven without Obama knowing about it.

mschy 17y ago

it is certainly fair comment to say that Obama, by appointing industry lawyers, has given tacit endorsement to the industry stance of harsh penalties. No, it isn't. If I know that X laws need reform, I'll hire lawyers who are very familiar with X laws to review possible changes, their effects, and how they would use those laws, to try to avoid making a bad situation worse. On the flip side, if I want X laws strengthened, I'd still hire lawyers who are familiar with X laws, to figure out how to make them stronger, and plug the holes. As such, I'd contend that Obama's hiring of lawyers who specialized in IP tells us only that his administration is interested in gaining expertise in the application of IP law. That said, I tend to be a lot less outraged about politics than other HN'ers.

roc 17y ago

So you're arguing that maybe he just doesn't care about the issue or the case? That's the defense? "No no, he doesn't support it. He's merely so disinterested in the situation that he doesn't have any idea, or interest in, the position his administration is taking on his behalf."

GiraffeNecktie 17y ago
The administration does not take positions "on behalf" of the president. Obama is not the administration nor is the administration some kind of perfect reflection in every detail of Obama's innermost thoughts and desires. And verily it is possible that a sparrow falls from heaven without Obama knowing about it.