4 ms·

Exactly. We all sit around here and preach to the choir. I don't know that anyone really knows how or what to do here. How does a non-mainstream issue like th

by dpcan 15y ago

Exactly. We all sit around here and preach to the choir. I don't know that anyone really knows how or what to do here. How does a non-mainstream issue like this get into the public eye in such a way that anyone but our niche gives a crap? Lastly, we have to ask why they REALLY exist. What is REALLY going on. Where is the money in all this, who's making the most? If Big Software Corp A wants patents to stick around, and the legislator wants Big Software Corp A's money for the next election, do they have any interest in representing the people, or just the corporation? In this situation, the number of PEOPLE who don't want these patents has to surpass the influence of the large corporations who do want software patents to stay as they are. I just don't see this happening.

ChuckMcM 15y ago
Just out of curiosity, when is the last time you talked with your representative in Congress? (I know, I'm assuming you are based in the USA) I ask because I find a high correlation between this particular point of view : "entity 'x' whom is unassailable, is corrupting the politician I voted in to represent me." And people who have neither voted, nor talked with any representative who was either elected or was trying to be elected. Here is my idea on 'what to do' here, let me know if it sounds reasonable or not. My idea is that a group of technologists work with Congress and the Patent and Trademark office to take a look at the existing processes and goals and then put together a program for moving the existing patent law into something that makes sense and serves the needs of inventors without creating opportunities for commercial extortion. Worth a shot?
- bjelkeman-again 15y ago
  The question is if it is more effective to hack politics through the traditional way, ie lobbying and being involved in politics, or if you can do better by being a hacker/entrepreneur. I mentioned this before in a discussion about how we change government policy by building software. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2479302 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2479302
  - ChuckMcM 15y ago
    Excellent! That is another great way to help out. I tell people that democracy is a participation sport, it's so much more effective to do something about your concerns than to simply complain about them, and doing something isn't all that hard.

by dpcan 15y ago

ChuckMcM 15y ago

Just out of curiosity, when is the last time you talked with your representative in Congress? (I know, I'm assuming you are based in the USA) I ask because I find a high correlation between this particular point of view : "entity 'x' whom is unassailable, is corrupting the politician I voted in to represent me." And people who have neither voted, nor talked with any representative who was either elected or was trying to be elected. Here is my idea on 'what to do' here, let me know if it sounds reasonable or not. My idea is that a group of technologists work with Congress and the Patent and Trademark office to take a look at the existing processes and goals and then put together a program for moving the existing patent law into something that makes sense and serves the needs of inventors without creating opportunities for commercial extortion. Worth a shot?

bjelkeman-again 15y ago
The question is if it is more effective to hack politics through the traditional way, ie lobbying and being involved in politics, or if you can do better by being a hacker/entrepreneur. I mentioned this before in a discussion about how we change government policy by building software. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2479302 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2479302
- ChuckMcM 15y ago
  Excellent! That is another great way to help out. I tell people that democracy is a participation sport, it's so much more effective to do something about your concerns than to simply complain about them, and doing something isn't all that hard.