From Ralf Biernacki
The rise of the Pirate party is the beginning of a sea change: the communities of the internet entering politics (1 October, p 29). Soon we will see political campaigns shift from billboards to forums and social sites.
I can see the benefits: at some point the traditional politicos and their party structures will desperately attempt to adapt, but it is unlikely they will succeed. The scene will change and young, less cynical people will move in, ousting the old-boy network.
The new politicians will at last be scientifically and technologically literate, to my immense relief. This is just about the only way our planet can escape the looming crisis, and our civilisation move forward. Out with the lawyers and hustlers, hooray for the geeks.
This could be the death knell for end-user licence agreements, digital rights management, the US’s Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the Recording Industry Association of America and the Thought Police. The stranglehold on the free exchange of ideas will be broken. Copyright, which cripples it, will perish or be replaced with an approach that benefits the author and corporate exploiters.
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Hopefully, there will be greater transparency, forcing more responsible behaviour from governments and the banks.
What are the drawbacks? Time will tell. We won’t be able to avoid this development anyway; it is driven by generational shift, and is essentially unstoppable.
So breathe in the fresh air. Vote Pirate!
Gdansk, Poland
