I’ve found my political party
The Pirate Party is now an officially listed political entity in the UK with candidates standing for election who are friendly on my topics.
Reform copyright and patent law: “We want to legalise non-commercial file sharing and reduce the excessive length of copyright protection, while ensuring that when creative works are sold, it’s the artists who benefit, not monopoly rights holders. We want a patent system that doesn’t stifle innovation or make life saving drugs so expensive that patients die.”
End the excessive surveillance: This includes “profiling, tracking and monitoring of innocent people by Government and big businesses.”
Free speech: “Ensure that everyone has real freedom of speech and real freedom to enjoy and participate in our shared culture.”
With laws rushing through parliament that threaten to turn 7 million people into criminals facing potential fines of up to £50,000, this fringe party with a funny name has the potential to put a sizeable dent into the votes usually going to the Big Three, Labour, Tory and likely more seriously, the Lib Dems.
The Pirate Party launched in Europe on the heels of the Pirate Bay fiasco in Sweden. Following political organizing there, the Swedish Pirate Party’s first vicotry was in winning a seat in the European Parliament. The German Pirate Party has since elected an Member of German Parliament as well.
Wingnutty and far from center, sure. But aside from the online issues, I like that its model harkens back to the days of far more creative, cross-border political organizing that was once more common in the labor movement, which is what we need a bit more of in our new global, post-nation-emerging world.
SNIP: “The internet has turned our world into a global village. Ideas can be shared at incredible speed, and at negligible cost. The benefits are plain to see, but as a result, many vested interests are threatened. The old guard works hard to preserve their power and their privilege, so we must work hard for our freedom. The Pirate Party offers an alternative to the last century’s struggles between political left and political right. We are open to anyone and everyone who wants to live in a fair and open society.”
Plus, they have a sweet logo. Design points alone can swing a vote.
LINK: Pirate Party UK
We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be.
