[pp.int.general] Pirate Manifesto: PIRATA internal ballot, results

[Reinier Bakels]

>> http://int.piratenpartei.de/images/a/ac/PirateManifestoFirstDraft_DE.pdf
>
> A translation of the first draft. But what about the changes that have 
> been discussed here?

Before someone invests time for a translation, it may be helpful to decide 
first whether this type of "manifesto" is desirable at all. As you know, I 
have strong reservations.To summarise:
1) The lengthy introduction about democracy is totally redundant, and may 
actually be detrimental because it gives a very strange impression to 
outsiders. Pirate parties should not be seen as anti-system parties. They 
use the (present) democratic system in order to represent interests not 
properly represented by present political parties. The "transparency" 
section (page 8) again doubts the integrity of the system per se. Populist 
parties in various countries voice the very same type of arguments - and I 
don't think PPI wants to be compared with such - usally (far) right - 
parties. They try to represent the sound feelings of ordinary people, but 
German history learns that "gesundes Volksempfinden" is not a proper 
guidance!
2) The human rights argument to some extent is redudant as well. In 2009, no 
one in the western world will object to human rights. The problem is a 
balanced interpretation. Proponents of strong copyright protection and tight 
enforcement argue that human rights dictate that the interests of authors 
require such measures. This argument is not nonsensical, it is just not 
balanced. Furthermore, the explicit listing of human rights may be 
interpreted "a contrario" that PPI does *not* endorse some other human 
rights. Rewriting basic human rights is dangerous. Mistakes are easily made.
3) The chapter on "restrictions" (Einschränkungen) is phrased predominantly 
in a negative sense. The rant about the concept of "intellectual property" 
in the first sentence is not very informative for supporters, will irritate 
opponents, and most lawyers agree that "IP" is just a generic concept used 
for convenience, not a legal concept. Also, there is a plain contradiction 
with the previous paragraph, because the protection of intellectual property 
is (pretty commonly!) seen as a human right (but admittedly there is a lot 
of confusion of the itnerpretation of the related provision).

For me, the Pirate Parties have the purpose to put counterweight on the 
balance of the political process which is presently dominated by fossile 
digibetic "law & order" politicians who are susceptible to the rhetoric of 
corporate lobbyists. Not to oppose the system, but to exploit the system. 
With a sense of urgency, because there is a lot going on presently. One does 
not need a fanciful philosophy to know what is right and wrong in this 
field.

reinier