Frustration

In many parts of the world a certain frustration is growing with the democratic processes that should govern the lives of us - the people. Time and time again it appears as if “those in power” are not listening to what we desire any more and instead follow whatever is proposed by industry lobbyists and other special interest groups. Laws and regulations are passed, which are completely at odds with what most of the people actually want. For the most part, this is just a vague feeling that permeates people's lives. In other cases there are specific examples, but which often only a small group of people is even aware of.

Examples

Here is what we have been treated to lately:

Draconian laws requiring uninterrupted monitoring of all subscribers' Internet traffic, demanding storage of connection information by ISPs, making it illegal to use DRM-circumventing technologies (for example Europe and Brazil). Purportedly to fight “terrorism” and “copyright violations”, which apparently are seen on almost the same level these days.

Advisors with inherent conflict of interest suggesting data protection and surveillance strategies to governments.

Ultra-strict copyright laws like the so-called Canadian DMCA.

Google being forced to hand over YouTube log files to Viacom and thereby compromising millions of users' privacy for no reason at all.

Microsoft using under-handed tactics to force the inferior OOXML “standard” through the ISO fast track process.

Implementation of RFID chips and storage of biometric information in passports, proposed as law by board members of the same companies making these chips.

None of these measures do anything to prevent crime, or protect us from threats and keep us safe. None of these laws even benefit us in any way. In fact, they are “ anti-features ” if you will, put in place to the clear detriment of the public. But yet, here they are.

Why is this all happening?

Why can the interests of a few companies overrule the interests of the masses? Why is there money to lobby for laws that benefit a few, but no money to fight for the freedom and rights of us all? Economics can tell us why...



The answer is simple. The few – in this case the media companies, or companies producing faulty-by-design technologies such as DRM, biometric passports, voting machines or other self-serving but dangerous products – individually benefit much more than the average member of the masses is economically harmed. And since the masses tend to be (dare I say it?) by and large uneducated and clueless about the risks of these laws and processes, they will not care. People in general only start to complain about something if it affects their own financial situation.

Well, the individual member of the masses is economically harmed in this case, but just not enough to wake them up from their slumber. For example, forcing ISPs to retain all this connection information inevitably means that the ISPs have to charge their customers more in order to acquire the necessary equipment. A large ISP with a few thousand customers might have to charge each of them maybe a few cents per month more? Maybe a dollar? So, the actual economic incentive for the masses to protest against such actions is negligible. And besides, the item hasn't appeared on the subscriber's bill yet, and won't appear there until long after the law is passed. As a result nobody cares. In the meantime, the vendor who makes network monitoring equipment knows that they can sell a few million dollars worth of gear to ISPs. They benefit quite nicely and will lobby hard for such laws.

A few win while everyone else loses



We can see the significant economic incentive for the few and the comparatively small economic damage to the individuals of the masses, even though the “masses” as a whole pay the entire bill. There are just too many members on the “masses” side of the equation by which the cost is divided, making the economic damage to the individual small. Thus, most people don't care and can't be bothered.

The loss in freedom and rights is much less tangible and not really noticed by most people until it is much too late anyway.

And that is how special interest groups always end up winning: If they can get some hair-brained scheme passed as law then each of them is set to benefit greatly. Consequently, they are highly motivated to do whatever it takes to get the law through. The average member of the masses on the other hand doesn't know about these developments, doesn't care or realise the threat this poses to their freedom, isn't aware of the ongoing erosion of their rights, and is not substantially affected in a material way.

Consequently, nobody goes on the barricades while back-room deals are done and nifty lobbying takes away their rights.

A solution?

What can be done against this? Short term, probably nothing any more. Note that this has been going on for a long time already, and that these lobbying efforts are not limited to laws and processes about new technology. It's a well established system, if you will. In the long term, though, the only chance for a democracy to protect itself from the vested interests of the few is education. People need to learn to value their rights and freedoms the same way they value the money in their pocket.

As it stands, the masses are happy to be entertained by Big Brother, to buy into the latest DRM-infested fad from proprietary vendors, to continue to vote for political parties that have long sold out to lobby groups, to think that privacy invading tactics are ok, because they have “nothing to hide”, etc.

As long as the masses are kept fat and happy and content, nothing will change. Education is the key. If people would know their history, they would know that even in the old Rome already the emperors knew that “Bread and Games” was the key to a docile public.

Let's not be a docile public, let's look through the warm, fuzzy muck of media entertainment and advertisement for unnecessary consumer goods that dulls our senses and clouds our minds. Let's realize that the democratic rights and liberties we take for granted are no such thing: At some point they had to be fought for. We don't need a revolution, we just need to learn, watch and listen, and let our leaders know that we will vote for what's right, not for what's convenient. We need to let them know that we are watching and expect them to work for us, not against us.

But what am I asking for here? The masses of people actually caring? Having well-informed opinions? Learning?

Sigh... Does that look like a hopeless cause to you as well?

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