Idea: We don't need a Revolution anymore.

[tyrannosaurus vex]

It fits in a way. Everybody is playing a game most of the time, the politics game, the work game, the 'family guy' game. But this synonymous with other discussions about masks people wear. I'd rather just put this down in the "can also be described as" column, than rehash the same thing we've already talked about for a year.

[AFK]

correct motorcycle running through the above post. 

[Bruno]

Control of technology is the source of all power. The System^tm owns (almost) all the scientists and engineers, and thus has (almost) total control over technology. What we need are more scientists, engineers, technologists, etc... who refuse to hand over their knowledge and power to a soulless machine, but instead design technology that helps individuals gain more independence from the man/machine/system.

[Requia ☣]

Control of technology is the source of all power. The System^tm owns (almost) all the scientists and engineers, and thus has (almost) total control over technology. What we need are more scientists, engineers, technologists, etc... who refuse to hand over their knowledge and power to a soulless machine, but instead design technology that helps individuals gain more independence from the man/machine/system.

We do, at least at the software level, have a fairly big movement for that (or something similar).  Linux and free software and cyber hippies and all that.

[Bruno]

I'm somewhat aware of the open source software movement. I think I've at least skimmed over the GPL at some point. I'm a hardware guy myself (electro-mechanical, manufacturing, industrial, etc...), about a year from graduating. I'm in the process of finding ways to use my powers for good rather than evil i.e. the Corporatocracy/Military Industrial Complex.

So far the best I've been able to come up with is evil vending machines.

[Requia ☣]

Hmm, meatspace engineering is a lot harder for that kind of deal.  Free software is only available because of the low cost of entry (almost any computer, skills, and an internet connection, legal protection is free unless you actually go to court).

I suppose you could always design things in your spare and then refuse to patent them.  But the global patent system is so screwed up, that somebody else would just patent them instead if you did that.  (Actually, they'll probably patent your idea regardless, you would just have the advantage of your own patent in the court if it came to that).  And a GPL style patent process wouldn't work well, unless you have ridiculous amounts of money to spend on patent applications.  (10 grand a pop in the US iirc, plus fees for a patent lawyer if you actually want it to go through).

[Bruno]

A simple patent with less than 3 independent claims can be filed for as little as a few hundred dollars if it is accepted the first time, but it usually isn't. This would of course mean doing all your own patent research and writing the patent yourself.

The closest analogy, as far as I can tell, to GPL/free software concerning inventions is the concept of prior art. If you design something and then publish your design, it makes it impossible for you or anyone else to patent it, but unlike the GPL (as I understand it) someone could come along and modify your design and get a patent on their new variation of your design, but the original design would still be free.

Also, all expired patents are free. Most patents expire after 17 years I think.

[FingFeng]

Anyone with their name on a patent will be among the first against the wall when the revolution comes.

Earlier in the thread someone commented that Feudalism was no better.  I disagree... The technology was poor, education was dire, medicine was as likely to kill as to cure you... But feudalism itself?  Is it so bad?  It was just another form of 'rich mans socialism'

See, under feudalism the ruling classes knew that if they pissed off the populace sufficiently then heads would roll... and heads did roll, regularly.  Now, I know that isn't an ideal situation but what it DID do is keep the nobility on their toes much of their time.

One day, following an unusually large cluster of noble beheadings the heads of europe decided that all this power simply wasn't worth having ones head cut off over... and democracy was born.  Democracy has always been simply a way of retaining power whilst never finding your head on the block.  It was beautiful, it was simple, it worked.  It threw a giant rubber pacifier in the mouth of the discontent masses.

Democracy thus requires two parties (minimum) who oppose each other over EVERYTHING (even common sense things) whilst protecting the interests of themselves and the landowners using superficially competing paradigms.  Seriously, democracy as it stands was the death knell for what remained of the public power.


But hey, if you think they're letting you down, go vote for the guys echoing your sentiments.  It wont achieve anything.  Your life will still suck, Your leader will still lie, your people will still be slaves.  But, at least you get to choose the colour scheme for your cell... which HAS to be a good thing, no ?

I say nothing will improve unless we go back to cutting off heads... and KEEP cutting them off until the position no longer appeals to the greedy and self-interested.


Don't get me wrong though.  Democracy, as an ideal, is not in itself a 'bad thing'.  Unfortunately, democracy is just a word... modern applications of it have little to do with the dictionary definition and instead represent just another recloaking of 'socialism for the rich'... a meme.

Don't like the way democracy is working out for you?  Hmm?  Then quite clearly you're a dirty stinkin' communist and representative of all thats wrong with your country.  you oughta be ashamed ; )


~ Pope Fing Feng III

[Triple Zero]

Anyone with their name on a patent will be among the first against the wall when the revolution comes.

triggerhappy fellow, are you? kill this, shoot that, first against the wall then ..

[Cramulus]

Democracy's busted, but unless you've come up with an adequate replacement, no amount of dead buerocrats are gonna save the world. Take what's going on every day in South America - there's coup after coup, but nobody's itching to replace Democracy. Democracy is appealing because it's the way that the average shmuck thinks he can become a powerful shmuck. So no, I think it's here to stay.


At least until the ROBOT REVOLUTION.

[Richter]

Robert Heinlein often pointed out in his books that no goverment is perfect, it's more about what works for the most people. 

[Requia ☣]

As long as we're talking Heinlein and government, I feel compelled to give this quote.

"... a system where the government gets very little say, and the people, bless their black twisted little hearts, get no say at all" (probably mangled horribly, from Time Enough For Love).

[FingFeng]

triggerhappy fellow, are you? kill this, shoot that, first against the wall then ...

I'm actually quite peacable...

But seriously, democracy and patents both fellate monkeys.


~ Pope Fing Feng II

[Cain]

Yes, because Bulgaria was a wonderful country 

[P3nT4gR4m]

There is straightforward solution here - crime.

That's right, crime. Be a fucking criminal.

What do we know about crime? That's right - it's bad.

How do we know? Cos everybody says so. Everybody, who we already know have been brainwashed by ... thats right .. teh bad people.

So a bunch of crooks and liars have convinced us that "crime don't pay"

Trust me on this - I've tried both ways - crime is the only way to make an honest buck.

For a kick off you get taxted to death if you try to do it the legal way.

"oh but if you break the law you might get caught and go to jail" I hear you say

congratulations - you're already in their prison and with that attitude there is absolutely NO WAY OUT!

I'm not saying be a murderer here but do not pay taxes, do not pay for goods and services, steal from the corporations to line your own pockets. Pretty soon you'll be feeling the benefit. Or you may get busted and lobbed in jail. If you don't take the chance you'll never get out the one you're in.

That's your choice right there.