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by jamestc 4751 days ago
You aren't alone. People are organizing protests and preparing letterheads, as they should be, but it all feels just as ineffective as the last time. The ugly truth, as many people know, is that these complaints/protests are built-in to the infrastructure, they're expected and they disrupt absolutely nothing.

We need a new conduit for effecting change.
1 comments
cabalamat 4751 days ago
> We need a new conduit for effecting change.

In Europe this conduit is called the Pirate Party. If we are to win this fight, it's one of our best vehicles to do so.

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phryk 4751 days ago
At least in Germany a lot of people have become disillusioned by the (german) Pirate Party.

They seem to have degraded into a mix of ridiculous infighting and traditional political party stuff.

I'd much rather see them to push for just one topic: Getting direct democracy.

Right now they are just dispersing all the resources they have (in mind and matter) towards hundreds if not thousands of different topics and don't look like an efficient agent of change at all.

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cabalamat 4751 days ago
> At least in Germany a lot of people have become disillusioned by the (german) Pirate Party.

In termss of the Hype Cycle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hype_cycle), they've passed the peak of inflated expectations and are now in the trough of dissillusionment. This state will not last forever.

> They seem to have degraded into a mix of ridiculous infighting and traditional political party stuff.

They grew too quickly. Digital rights issues aren't going away, and nor are the Pirates.

> I'd much rather see them to push for just one topic: Getting direct democracy.

No, they need a full range of policies if they are to get people to vote for them. Otherwise, people will say "I agree with you on X, but other policies are more important to me, so I won't be voting for you."

> Right now they are just dispersing all the resources they have (in mind and matter) towards hundreds if not thousands of different topics

As I pointed out above, this is necessary.

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phryk 4750 days ago
No, they need a full range of policies if they are to get people to vote for them. Otherwise, people will say "I agree with you on X, but other policies are more important to me, so I won't be voting for you."

It just seems like an insane amount of brain cycles. Having just one clear goal would make it much easier for anyone to understand - in it's entirety - what the PP is standing for and also streamline resources towards that goal which would probably make it much more efficient in reaching said goal.

As for a complete political programme, can't they just have a team that puts all the decisions that are decided upon in political institutions where pirates are involved into a liquid feedback system where everyone can vote on it? That way the PP could already act as a small direct democracy.

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ionforce 4751 days ago
You don't want direct democracy. Otherwise the majority will rule over the minority.
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phryk 4750 days ago
Actually I want a cooperative anarchy with localized institutions that are publicly controlled and from which anybody can opt out in some way.
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PavlovsCat 4751 days ago
Yeah, unfortunately. I think the PP proved that there is potential and support for real change; I think they basically got elected on the platform of not being like all those other suits, and I enjoy(ed) that. But of course, that alone is not enough.
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icebraining 4751 days ago
Unfortunately, there's no one PP. I wish I could vote for the Swedish PP on the EP elections.
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