US seems a little too trigger-happy about putting trade sanctions on countries these days. They are basically coercing everyone to do what they want or else. And they wonder why the world likes USA less and less.
I don't think this will end well if this keeps up. Free trade is a prerequisite for a wealthy society. Trade isolationism can only lead to less wealth and more wars. Trade is probably the biggest factor in reducing frequency of wars in the world throughout history. Without trade countries had to invade each other to get the resources they needed.
What happens when the US is no longer trading with anyone, AND continues passing SOPA-style laws that hinder the internet?
Sounds more and more like a novel I read, once (name forgotten) where everyone in America believes that China has perfected a firewall, where in reality it's America that's trapped behind the firewall and cut off from the rest of the world.
This is sad for the rest of EU-nationals as well. Being in the trade- and political union was supposed to protect us from such attacks and pressure against our political sovereignity. "If we are part of a bigger entity, then it's harder for the bullies to harass an individual nation." That's how the Union was sold for many of us.
But right now, not only we face pressure from big foreign powers, but the Union itself is moving towards greater centralization of power. Especially financially.
The EU has done nothing but move towards greater centralization of power for the past 20 years, if not longer. It's not exactly an institution heavily anchored in democratic principles.
When people outside the US ask why they should care about US laws like SOPA, this is the answer. Laws spread quickly from country to country via trade agreements, copyright treaties, and other forms of influence.
It's exactly the opposite, actually. Most US citizens, not engaged in debate on international forums, get really pissed off at the arrogance of foreigners for expressing opinions on US politics. How dare they, they think.
I think they know. They've seen America as a bearer of democracy for a long time, and now it's losing that role model position, or worse yet, it keeps the role model position, but it's just not a very democratic position anymore, and everyone else starts following that or gets pressured into doing it. That's what they fear.
I still think it's unbelievable how disproportionately dangerous the content industry is to the rights of everyone in the world. I mean even if the US Government itself set out to try to convince other countries to just be more dictatorial so they can control their own people, they probably wouldn't be as successful. But the content industry itself, with some manipulation of the US Government, is managing to do that on what seems to be like a global scale.
And they even have the nerve to say that we should be more like Iran and China regarding our Internet. They say that publicly and almost get away with it, as they list the "benefits" of such a more authoritarian outcome.
I agree, for some things it's better to be centralized, but not too centralized. I wouldn't want it to make it simpler for them to convince the "leaders" of EU to adopt a law for the whole EU. The balance in EU needs to be weighted very carefully between centralization and decentralization, and centralization should have the minimum necessary power for the actual good of the Union. Too bad that knowing politicians, they always get carried away and think more centralization = always better.
I also think things like this should be blown up by countries impacted in their media and the UN. This will help highlight dangerous and over-reaching US foreign policy and potentially get US citizens and the UN involved which can then apply pressure on US officials to refrain from these kind of measures.
The government has too much power to do this, if they threaten another country with sanctions if they don't pass a law. This kind of power should be taken away from the executive and given to Congress. At least then we would see our elected representatives debate it, instead of some commission appointed by the President discussing it behind closed doors.
It's the same way the Obama administration forced ACTA (some copyright related treaty) on some countries, mostly in secret. And now they are trying to get it passed in EU, too.
I would have a better idea. Split united states into five independent parts, ten states each. You would not be world dangering military might anymore, and single trade sanction from single independent entity would not matter much. No more "too much power".
[+] [-] nextparadigms|14 years ago|reply
I don't think this will end well if this keeps up. Free trade is a prerequisite for a wealthy society. Trade isolationism can only lead to less wealth and more wars. Trade is probably the biggest factor in reducing frequency of wars in the world throughout history. Without trade countries had to invade each other to get the resources they needed.
[+] [-] pavel_lishin|14 years ago|reply
Sounds more and more like a novel I read, once (name forgotten) where everyone in America believes that China has perfected a firewall, where in reality it's America that's trapped behind the firewall and cut off from the rest of the world.
[+] [-] etanol|14 years ago|reply
To be more precise, they are coercing everyone with a fragile economy like Spain is suffering right now.
China has much less respect for intellectual property than Spain does, yet USA doesn't dare to threaten and pressure them in such an arrogant way.
[+] [-] Eeko|14 years ago|reply
But right now, not only we face pressure from big foreign powers, but the Union itself is moving towards greater centralization of power. Especially financially.
This does not look good.
[+] [-] henrikschroder|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] sycren|14 years ago|reply
perhaps the Spanish law will be challenged..
[+] [-] lutorm|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mbrubeck|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] barrkel|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] nextparadigms|14 years ago|reply
I still think it's unbelievable how disproportionately dangerous the content industry is to the rights of everyone in the world. I mean even if the US Government itself set out to try to convince other countries to just be more dictatorial so they can control their own people, they probably wouldn't be as successful. But the content industry itself, with some manipulation of the US Government, is managing to do that on what seems to be like a global scale.
And they even have the nerve to say that we should be more like Iran and China regarding our Internet. They say that publicly and almost get away with it, as they list the "benefits" of such a more authoritarian outcome.
[+] [-] nosse|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] danmaz74|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] nextparadigms|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rosariom|14 years ago|reply
It is almost twilight-zonish to see the US government in favor of Internet censorship when speeches against it like this exist: http://secretaryclinton.wordpress.com/2011/02/15/secretary-o....
Why isn't the US media all over things like this? So much for being the vanguards of freedom...
[+] [-] cmdrreiki|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pors|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] stuaxo|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] SODaniel|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rsanchez1|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] nextparadigms|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] nosse|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jordinl|14 years ago|reply
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