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The counter-argument to this is that in a functioning democracy, people would actually have the ability to think about things like copyright, vs. scrambling to

The counter-argument to this is that in a functioning democracy, people would actually have the ability to think about things like copyright, vs. scrambling to get adequate healthcare or education, while knowing their tax money would do meaningful things about crime instead of whatever they're doing now.

moonchrome 5y ago
Your point seem to be a rant about US social policies and is easily disproved by the fact that similar copyright terms existing in Europe where those things aren't the same.
- nextstep 5y ago
  They exist in Europe because of a similar corrupting mechanism; just because the European system hasn't completely dismantled their social systems the way the US is close to doesn't mean that democracy isn't also being weakened by capitalism.
- witrak 5y ago
  AFAIK the European model is not as similar as you seem to be convinced. And the origin of copyright was from the beginning related not to the well-being of authors but rather publishers.
adventured 5y ago
It's a flatly incorrect counter-argument. The majority of people that vote in the US and ultimately (if indirectly) determine such matters as copyright duration, are not scrambling for healthcare or education. That majority of voters rests well above the median in fact in both income and wealth. That's trivially demonstrated by the demographic, income and employment profiles of the majority of people that vote. You've made a sizable mistake in thinking that that majority of voters are interested in freeing Winnie the Pooh versus boosting their equity portfolio by padding the bottom line of Disney. The majority American voting profile is one of the wealthiest on the planet. You might reassess what you think their priorities are. This aspect isn't going to change, and no amount of wishing will make it so. The majority of US voters will continue to have a significant tilt toward their financial self-interest, which rests with Disney's bottomline and not with rapidly emptying Disney's copyright vault. Hint: look up the median and average white + asian household income and wealth figures these days (latest Fed household survey).

moonchrome 5y ago

Your point seem to be a rant about US social policies and is easily disproved by the fact that similar copyright terms existing in Europe where those things aren't the same.

nextstep 5y ago
They exist in Europe because of a similar corrupting mechanism; just because the European system hasn't completely dismantled their social systems the way the US is close to doesn't mean that democracy isn't also being weakened by capitalism.
witrak 5y ago
AFAIK the European model is not as similar as you seem to be convinced. And the origin of copyright was from the beginning related not to the well-being of authors but rather publishers.

adventured 5y ago

It's a flatly incorrect counter-argument. The majority of people that vote in the US and ultimately (if indirectly) determine such matters as copyright duration, are not scrambling for healthcare or education. That majority of voters rests well above the median in fact in both income and wealth. That's trivially demonstrated by the demographic, income and employment profiles of the majority of people that vote. You've made a sizable mistake in thinking that that majority of voters are interested in freeing Winnie the Pooh versus boosting their equity portfolio by padding the bottom line of Disney. The majority American voting profile is one of the wealthiest on the planet. You might reassess what you think their priorities are. This aspect isn't going to change, and no amount of wishing will make it so. The majority of US voters will continue to have a significant tilt toward their financial self-interest, which rests with Disney's bottomline and not with rapidly emptying Disney's copyright vault. Hint: look up the median and average white + asian household income and wealth figures these days (latest Fed household survey).