Politicians' positions

Posted Sep 30, 2010 15:55 UTC (Thu) by FlorianMueller (guest, #32048)
In reply to: IBM/TurboHercules can be resolved with license; no need for abolition by ovitters
Parent article: Red Hat Responds to U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Request for Guidance on Bilski

I find it interesting/funny that in your view, politicians completely agree with your assertations.

I spent a lot of time discussing patent policy with politicians; I also discussed other IP issues with them (in connection with the commercial exploitation of professional sports); I read the kinds of studies and papers they read; I see what they write and hear what they say.

So when I talk about where they stand and what shapes their thinking, I'm describing rather than presupposing agreement.

In some ways, it's the reverse causation: because I see where they stand in terms of views and objectives, I believe it makes sense to adjust one's demands to reality in order to pursue ambitious but achievable goals.

I only take the firm position that something is a position of a vast majority of politicians when that's really my observation. I separate that from issues I consider worth pursuing but where majority support is far from certain.