Don’t forget to vote

PatentLawPic191There is a continuum of technology law interest amongst the leading five candidates. I’ve listed them from most-interested to least interested (in my subjective view):

  1. Romney (R)
  2. Obama (D)
  3. Clinton (D)
  4. Huckabee (R)
  5. McCain (R)

The issue for IP focused voters is whether interest is better than neglect.

38 thoughts on “Don’t forget to vote

  1. 38

    So, I see you left Ron Paul off your list. If anyone – Ron Paul – should be the IP community’s choice.

  2. 37

    Malcolm Mooney: “‘…your vote has basically zero chance of making a difference.’

    “The problem is that you don’t know when it will. Ask the 500 or so voters who did vote and made the difference in Florida in 2000, or better yet, ask those who didn’t vote and later wished they had.”

    This illustrates my point. Not a single one of those 500 voters made the difference. One’s vote makes a difference only if there is only a one-vote difference. That is statistically impossible in a Presidential race.

    Moreover, it would happen only in a race between a Republican and a Democrat, so the difference is fairly trivial anyway, since politicians from these parties are very similar (both believe in large government, high taxes, soft socialism, war, the welfare state, allegiance to the state, etc.).

  3. 36

    Dear Mr. gideonpope,

    Re: “Life just got really busy for me, so I won’t be posting any more.”

    Are you going for a writing job at the Reader’s Digest like Jaoi(TM)?

    If you don’t rail on American heroes and cut them some semblance of slack if they were tortured by G00ks because he probably still has nightmares (I still have nightmares about 9/11 and I wasn’t physically tortured for years or even physically hurt – I agree though, maybe he wouldn’t be the best, most stable President – go go go Mayor Bloomberg), and if you stick to you patent forte on this blog like all good cobblers, I don’t think anyone will be nasty to you.

    I really, really liked your post on the other thread.

    This is not just Anybody?, Anybody?, writing, this is
    Bueller?, Bueller?(TM) (not)

  4. 35

    “The words “g–k” and “n—-r” are strictly offensive, and should not be used by anyone. The use of the word n—-r by a black man to his friends is more offensive”

    And I suppose guns kill . . . not people.

  5. 34

    Life just got really busy for me, so I won’t be posting any more.

    Dennis/MM – great blog, really made my job easier, and I expect it will until my retirement.

    I’m impressed that you never edited/censored one of my posts.

    I figure I owe you. If you ever need anything, send me an email – I’ll offer a quo for the quid if I can pro.

    GP

  6. 33

    MM wrote – “Indeed. And who is this Dennis Crouch person anyway? He acts like he owns the place.”

    He’s not the only one, MM.

  7. 32

    “…your vote has basically zero chance of making a difference.”

    Depends, if you live in a state that goes heavily Democrat/Republican in the presidential election and if you go against what your state goes your vote is wasted because of the antiquated electoral college BS (some states do a proportional electroal college to actual vote system).

    For example, if you are a Republican in Connecticut, don’t bother showing up to the polls.

  8. 31

    “…your vote has basically zero chance of making a difference.”

    The problem is that you don’t know when it will. Ask the 500 or so voters who did vote and made the difference in Florida in 2000, or better yet, ask those who didn’t vote and later wished they had.

  9. 30

    “The view that people “should” vote, or the implicit endorsement of democracy as a legitimate system, are themselves controversial political views. What place do they have here.”

    Indeed. And who is this Dennis Crouch person anyway? He acts like he owns the place.

  10. 29

    “Don’t forget to vote.” I don’t know why this blog feels the need to participate in the state’s propaganda. The view that people “should” vote, or the implicit endorsement of democracy as a legitimate system, are themselves controversial political views. What place do they have here.

    Moreover, as is plain to everyone (though we are not supposed to say it), it’s a waste of time to vote, since your vote has basically zero chance of making a difference.

    Finally, the only candidate who actually supports the Constitution and real property rights and economic and personal freedom is Ron Paul, who is left off the list.

  11. 28

    “Boy, I’m sure glad I grew out of liberalism/socialism when I was 20.”

    Is that about the age when you first starting reading Ayn Rand?

  12. 27

    “While Mr. Paul’s election prospects border on nil,”

    That’s like saying Mexico City borders on Mexico.

    If he got close enough to sniff the White House he’d be shot faster than you could ask, “how do you spell ‘Mossad?'”

  13. 25

    BigGuy,

    Who knows? I find Mr. Paul to be a rather engaging individual who in actually willing to answer questions, rather than talking in broad generalities containing a lot of words and not a whit of substance.

    More importantly though, and of interest to me, he seems to have the radical belief that the real power of our government resides in the halls of Congress, a collective group that is only too willing to shirk its responsibilities and try and shift them to an easy target, the president.

    While Mr. Paul’s election prospects border on nil, it is at least refreshing to hear someone who speaks his mind without resort to pre-prepared sound bites crafted by his staff. In some regards he reminds me of the character played by Robin Williams in the movie “Man of the Year”.

  14. 24

    Why aren’t we using Mr. Hall’s real name? Is this also a word that is “strictly offensive” and shouldn’t be used anyone?

  15. 23

    Whether one agrees or disagrees with what Mr. Hall stands for, you do have to give him credit for one thing. I believe he is likely the only one who has ever read Article II of the Constitution defining presidential powers. The enumerated powers of the president fit quite nicely on a small Post-It note. The reason for this is obvious, but apparently the reason is not understood by most candidates for the office.

  16. 22

    Someone wrote: “The use of the word n—-r by a black man to his friends is more offensive still, showing that the racism really worked:”

    This is classic, ninny-white liberal, ivory tower garbage.

    The guy saying the word is not offended, and he’s black. The guy hearing the word is not offended, and he’s black.

    The white patent attorney driving by in his BMW hears the word and is “strictly offended” because these two black guys are clearly too stoopid to understand that they’ve “deeply internalized” the racism!!

    Oh my, that is precious!

    Boy, I’m sure glad I grew out of liberalism/socialism when I was 20.

    Here’s the deal genius; the word is not offensive to either black man because each man realizes that the other guy has no hatred of him because of his color.

    The word itself is harmless.

    It’s the hatred of the person speaking the word that is harmful.

    Get it, don’t get it, i couldn’t care less, but if you’re going to go up to the two black guys on the street to try to explain to them how they’re too stoopid to understand that they have internalized the racism, then please oh please oh please let me know so I can film it. Please?

    I’ll even pay you handsomely.

  17. 21

    The words “g–k” and “n—-r” are strictly offensive, and should not be used by anyone. The use of the word n—-r by a black man to his friends is more offensive still, showing that the racism really worked: the word and its’ meaning have been deeply internalized. That is very sad. Be extremely thoughtful if you find yourself using these words for any reason. Their shock value continues to work and the effect is contagious.

  18. 20

    Yes Dennis, I was well aware of the hateful newsletters that went out under Don Hall’s name.

    That is why I was very careful to use words that made clear that I don’t disagree with anything the man said “during the campaign.”

    But you’re a professor, so I figured you’d notice my qualifier.

    If a man was going to save a baby from a burning house today, I would not prevent him from doing so because he was, formerly, an arsonist.

    Likewise, a can forgive a reformed man for past mistakes, if he is truly reformed.

    As for the comment that “Don Hall doesn’t understand politics is about the middle”, all I can say is, the middle of the road is leading right off the cliff, and so maintaining that middle is, IMO, not sagacious.

  19. 19

    @A:

    “After Michelle’s law school graduation, she joined the kind of ‘successful corporation’ — Chicago’s Sidley & Austin — she wrote about at Princeton. Her specialty: marketing and intellectual property.”

    link to suntimes.com

  20. 18

    “the only person running for whom I have any respect has a name that rhymns with Don Tall.”

    Well that says a lot about you. “Don Hall” does not know or does not care that politics is and should be a fight for the middle ground.

  21. 16

    Dennis – made me smile again – very clever.

    LL wrote: “And I notice that GideonPope has no problems throwing that word around, but couches his other racist slurs in purposeful misspelling so as to not offend people of those groups.”

    Um, I “couch” my “other racist slurs” in misspellings because otherwise MM’s profanity filter won’t let me post. You @zz.

    I don’t believe words are racist. I believe use of words is racist. That’s why a black man can say “n1gger” to his friends and nobody gets upset. The word itself is harmless. It’s the use of the word by a hateful person that makes it racist.

    JMcC’s use of the “g-word” is racist. That’s it.

    In terms of my political bent, I severely dislike all of the talking heads on the radio and TV, and the only person running for whom I have any respect has a name that rhymns with Don Tall. I can’t find one thing that Don Tall has said during this campaign with which I don’t agree.

  22. 14

    …of course, “interest” is certainly a long way from knowledgeable…and even farther away from being willing to fix that which needs fixin’…and being willing to leave all that is right just how it is.

  23. 12

    PS

    Before GideonPope starts calling me a racist (based on his rants, I expect he will), anyone that actually knows me would know that I not only do not support real racist attitudes, I am personally and particularly offended by any one’s (including GideonPope) use of the word “gook”!

    And I notice that GideonPope has no problems throwing that word around, but couches his other racist slurs in purposeful misspelling so as to not offend people of those groups. Tells us all we need to know about him!!

    LL

  24. 11

    Sounds like GideonPope is a died-in-the-wool Limbaugh-loving dittohead based on his hatred of McCain.

    If he is not & is just a left-wing extremist, then it might be a good idea to support the guy that is hated by both extremes of the political spectrum.

    Either way, the way this GideonPope is ranting, it makes me want to support McCain 🙂 I sure wouldn’t want to be on the same side as GideonPope and all his hatred.

    thanks,

    LL

  25. 10

    “However, when Mayor Mike Bloomberg runs, I, of course, will vote.”

    I will vote for any independent rich enough (or religious enough) to ignore any corporate interests

    “The difference is, McCain wants to go into Iran.”

    This is getting dangerously close to Russia…

    For Christ’s sake, don’t mess with Russia !!!

    This actually should be made an amendment to the US Constitution: whatever you do just don’t mess with Russia!
    Quite a few countries did it in the past and they all regretted …

  26. 9

    “The comment on McCain is uncalled for. As an American he has less to prove to anyone than any of the others.”

    What? Because he spent 4 years in a POW camp getting tortured.

    If anything, I figure that the experience of being tortured would lead him to the conclusion that the resource wars in the Middle East are horrific.

    Instead, this idi0t wants to start WWIII.

    It’s not really about politics – I think Hillary will continue the war and expand it into Iran if her corporate bosses tell her to.

    The difference is, McCain wants to go into Iran. The guy is like MacArthur wanting to go into China.

    McCain does not “deserve” respect because he was tortured.

    He does not “deserve” respect because he thinks he can slander every Asian in the U.S. with his chronic use of the “gook”. Would it be ok for him to use the word n1gger if he was a POW in Somalia? Or k1ke if he was a POW in Israel?

    It’s racist and disgusting and his rationalization that “it only applies to my captors” is a lie.

    This guy is the most dangerous candidate because he WANTS war. He’s a military guy who thinks the military is the answer to all of our problems.

    He’s said he wants to be in Iraq for 100 years. That’s not a freaking typo. That’s 100. As in a century.

    What kind of lunatic would make that kind of a comment?

    100 years ago we were a small country coming out of a civil war. Who could possibly predict where we’ll be in 100 years or even if we’ll be.

    This lunatic is ready to commit to being in Iraq for 100 years?

    Don’t tell me he deserves respect.

    What he deserves is a thorough psychological examination.

    I’ll say it again.

    He doesn’t care about IP because he can’t bomb it.

  27. 8

    A better quote: “Even if there is no-one you want to vote for, there is always someone to vote against.” (from one or more RAH books)
    Or sometimes, many “someones”. If nothing else, your vote against will (sort of) cancel out the vote of some 1d10t that voted for the person you strongly dislike.

    thanks,

    LL

    PS, I second your statements, big_hairy_rat. What “GideonPope” said is both uncalled for and disrespectful, as well as showing his (her?) own ignorance.

  28. 7

    Malcolm,

    Another line from a favorite movie, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”:

    “Once again I find we are in agreement.”; and then John whacks ’em in their heads.

    Please, won’t you let me drink in peace?

  29. 6

    “when Mayor Mike Bloomberg runs, I, of course, will vote.”

    Yes, because partisan politics is so horrifying and we need saints like Mike Bloomberg who are above all that petty disagreement about stuff.

  30. 5

    As an American, however, I chose to abstain, because “I don’t want to encourage the bastards” (a line from a movie I cannot recall the name of.)

    However, when Mayor Mike Bloomberg runs, I, of course, will vote.

    And he will run.

    In the words of Mr. Monk, I could be wrong now, but I don’t think so.

  31. 4

    Hey BHR,

    Your’s is the best remark I’ve read all day!

    Thank you.
    JAOI(TM)

  32. 3

    The comment on McCain is uncalled for. As an American he has less to prove to anyone than any of the others.

    You may not want him as the President but the man has earned the right to be treated with respect.

  33. 2

    Well, McCain clearly has no interest in Intellectual Property because it is intangible, and cannot, therefore, be bombed or called “gook”.

  34. 1

    Well, McCain clearly has no interest in Intellectual Property because it is intangible, and cannot, therefore, be bombed or called “gook”.

Comments are closed.