An open letter from Alan Cox [LWN.net]

An open letter from Alan Cox

Posted May 31, 2004 21:44 UTC (Mon) by steven97 (guest, #2702)
In reply to: An open letter from Alan Cox by dcoutts
Parent article: An open letter from Alan Cox

<soapbox>
There is very little democratic about the European Parliament. You can
vote for your representatives, who then go sit there for five years with
their hands tied because they have no rights whatsoever (not even the
right to initiative). And when they finally try to do something, like
blocking a very broken financial plan or modifying the patents plan, the
European Committee or the Council of Ministers just ignore them or accept
the stalemate so they can blame the parliament.

I am not going to vote, a European Union like we have now is a farce.
</soapbox>

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An open letter from Alan Cox

Posted Jun 1, 2004 10:59 UTC (Tue) by PhilHannent (guest, #1241) [Link]

That is all the more reason to vote.

If you don't like the political system then vote to change it voting for the independance party would help you get what you are looking for. Not voting will allow the stalemate to continue.

If you are opposed to something then vote against it. People that are given a voice (a little one at that) and choose not to use it because they dont agree with the current system is crazy.

An open letter from Alan Cox

Posted Jun 2, 2004 16:18 UTC (Wed) by Adamskie (guest, #22004) [Link]

Not one side is any better then the other.
They both sux. When it comes to human rights.. they know nothing!

Though they know how to make money for... THEMSELFS.

They do have a hard job... But they still think of nothing but them selfs.

Though i guess 90% of man think that way...

But what have you got to lose ?

Posted Jun 2, 2004 7:15 UTC (Wed) by guybar (guest, #798) [Link]

IIUC, your argument is: the EP is powerless, so there's no reason to vote.

However, you ignore the probability that the EP will gain some political clout in the future.

If the situation stays the same, the comunity's [anti-SW-patent] position didn't lose anything due to your voting. If not, then affecting its (the EP's) positions will be beneficial to the comunity's cause.

So what have you got to lose ?