Ok, now I'm pissed off: Guilty until Proven Innocent.
I've not been happy with the massive abuse of Urgency that National has undertaken. This appears to be the most comprehensive coverage of it.
I understand a need for extra time for readings. I understand the need to have a process for rapidly passing true urgent laws, and agree the Christchurch Earthquake qualifies for this.
My opinions are that these should be separate things, and that any urgent laws passed should all be temporary.
So far I've put up with it, mostly because I've been to lazy to care, most don't have a direct impact on me, and I figured I'd vote against them next election.
However with the passing of the The Copyright Amendment Bill, I'm now seriously pissed off.
It failed in Select Committee in 2008 due to overwhelming public opposition, for a damn good reason:
You are presumed guilty until you prove yourself innocent.
There's no burden of evidence on the behalf of the copyright owner when lodging a challenge. They only have to claim you've done it.
Secondly there's a dozen ways your "home" could have downloaded something without you even realising it, let alone intended it: Flatmates is the obvious, but also Virus's, Trojan's, Drive-by Downloading, Friends/Relatives visiting. I'm an internet and computer guru, and even I can't guarantee that I would never download anything I don't know because of the above - without being draconian.
And you have to prove you didn't download it.
This bill has been passed into law under urgency, the urgency being claimed for the earthquake law, and mere hours notice, and the entire process in less than a day.
No right for public submission.
No chance for expert opinion.
It is already now a law.
I'm now pissed off, that I want to know what I can now do.
I understand a need for extra time for readings. I understand the need to have a process for rapidly passing true urgent laws, and agree the Christchurch Earthquake qualifies for this.
My opinions are that these should be separate things, and that any urgent laws passed should all be temporary.
So far I've put up with it, mostly because I've been to lazy to care, most don't have a direct impact on me, and I figured I'd vote against them next election.
However with the passing of the The Copyright Amendment Bill, I'm now seriously pissed off.
It failed in Select Committee in 2008 due to overwhelming public opposition, for a damn good reason:
You are presumed guilty until you prove yourself innocent.
There's no burden of evidence on the behalf of the copyright owner when lodging a challenge. They only have to claim you've done it.
Secondly there's a dozen ways your "home" could have downloaded something without you even realising it, let alone intended it: Flatmates is the obvious, but also Virus's, Trojan's, Drive-by Downloading, Friends/Relatives visiting. I'm an internet and computer guru, and even I can't guarantee that I would never download anything I don't know because of the above - without being draconian.
And you have to prove you didn't download it.
This bill has been passed into law under urgency, the urgency being claimed for the earthquake law, and mere hours notice, and the entire process in less than a day.
No right for public submission.
No chance for expert opinion.
It is already now a law.
I'm now pissed off, that I want to know what I can now do.
- I don't know what works.
- I don't know how to organise it.
- I'm ready to march.
- I'm ready to sign.
- I'm ready to protest.
- I'm ready to push my way into parliament and tear it up with my own hands.