Earlier quoted context omitted.
For the majority of European countries? Can you give some examples?
Czech republic sometimes does things its own way and it's even worse...
Agreed.
Romanian Prime Minister Admits He Has No Idea Why Romania Signed ACTA
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Re: Romanian Prime Minister Admits He Has No Idea Why Romania Signed ACTA
#32Earlier quoted context omitted.
>I am really glad that eastern European people are so vigilant about censorship and government control. Ironic that they are "worried" about "government control" given how often their governments control huge chunks of the economy, private sector and the general distrust and vilification of capitalism (you think the OWS is bad, wait till you hear the ex-commies and philosophy professors talking about social justice t…
In the USA socialism is a dirty word. Here the European Socialist Party is the 2nd largest in the European Parliament.
In Eastern Europe, "socialism" doesn't mean anything. Same about the other ______isms. There is just more or less OLIGARCHY.
If I rememebr well, in Romania, most of the right-wing economic measures were taken in early 2000 by the... Socialist Party.
Re: Romanian Prime Minister Admits He Has No Idea Why Romania Signed ACTA
#33I am really glad that eastern European people are so vigilant about censorship and government control. It should still be known, that a lot of bad stuff has crept into EU law. But people are starting to gain awareness on these issues. And East EU people have no enthusiasm about reliving the Iron Curtain days.
> I am really glad that eastern European people are so vigilant about censorship and government control.
And for good reasons. I'm Romanian myself, but I think I speak for a lot of other East-Europeans when I'm saying that all this censorship non-sense brings back awful things from the past. I was only 9 when the Communist regime fell, but I can still remember about how my parents or any other adults could have gone to jail only for listening to Radio Free Europe. As long as people who remember those times are still alive and active stupid stuff like ACTA will hopefully not pass.
Re: Romanian Prime Minister Admits He Has No Idea Why Romania Signed ACTA
#34Re: Romanian Prime Minister Admits He Has No Idea Why Romania Signed ACTA
#35I am really glad that eastern European people are so vigilant about censorship and government control. It should still be known, that a lot of bad stuff has crept into EU law. But people are starting to gain awareness on these issues. And East EU people have no enthusiasm about reliving the Iron Curtain days.
>I am really glad that eastern European people are so vigilant about censorship and government control. Ironic that they are "worried" about "government control" given how often their governments control huge chunks of the economy, private sector and the general distrust and vilification of capitalism (you think the OWS is bad, wait till you hear the ex-commies and philosophy professors talking about social justice t…
I don't downvote stuff on HN (I think you're just my third or fourth downvote), but I had to do it because you're factually wrong, and spreading misconceptions.
I'll just give you my country's example, Romania. Our biggest company, Petrom (it's an oil company) has been privatized just before our entry into the EU. Its new owner? The Austrians from OMV, which has the Austrian Government as its main shareholder. Also, there are only 2 or 3 Romanian banks, which I don't think that control more than 10% of the market taken together, the rest of the banking sector is controlled by foreign-owned banks (some of them also having their Governments as major shareholders). And I could go on and on.
Re: Romanian Prime Minister Admits He Has No Idea Why Romania Signed ACTA
#36Is the article really suggesting that there might be a connection between ACTA and Boc's resignation ? Because that would be hilarious. (He resigned for an entirely different reason)
No, the resignation came after months of pressure from the population and even the president. But I assume (I hope) ACTA has a part too :)
This is clearly a political move in preparation for the coming elections. For example the resignation took place right AFTER the IMF visit (and I just lost a bet to an older friend who anticipated this since December).
The current president is on the 2nd term and he cannot run for any more terms (in Romania you cannot be president more than twice). So a new candidate must be prepared. Because of this, the ex-prime minister made the most unpopular (but needed) reforms, and paved the way for a new person to become prime minister now, and presidential candidate soon.
Basically, the ex prime minister will now take all "the bullets", from crap like ACTA, to pension reform, no matter how much it depended or not on him.
BTW: let's not forget when the opposition party was in power 10 years ago and they used to send journalists to jail because they dared to uncover their theft (ie: "Armaggedon Reports"). So I doubt that they really are concerned about ACTA. It is more likely something extra to throw in the political battle.
Re: Romanian Prime Minister Admits He Has No Idea Why Romania Signed ACTA
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
>I am really glad that eastern European people are so vigilant about censorship and government control. Ironic that they are "worried" about "government control" given how often their governments control huge chunks of the economy, private sector and the general distrust and vilification of capitalism (you think the OWS is bad, wait till you hear the ex-commies and philosophy professors talking about social justice t…
I'm not sure why your comment was downvoted, as it's pretty much spot on. I'm Hungarian.
The same was said and downvoted last week when the Poles demonstrated: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3515839.
Re: Romanian Prime Minister Admits He Has No Idea Why Romania Signed ACTA
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sadly, the same is true for majority of governments in European countries.
For the majority of European countries? Can you give some examples?
> For the majority of European countries? Can you give some examples?
You seem to think otherwise.
Name five countries where the current political leaders can do a better job running your life than you can. In how many cases could all of their predecessors over the past 50 years have done a better job than you?
There are lots of countries and lots of political leaders over time, and I've yet to find more than a small minority who I'd trust to walk my dog, let alone run my life. (And yes, the same applies to other types of leaders, but that's not particularly relevant because reducing the powers of political leaders doesn't give other leaders power. Ford can't make me buy.)
Re: Romanian Prime Minister Admits He Has No Idea Why Romania Signed ACTA
#39The Prime Minister actually quit yesterday so it's the "former" Prime Minister.
Re: Romanian Prime Minister Admits He Has No Idea Why Romania Signed ACTA
#40Funny how all the regrets are AFTERWARDS. Much easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission. "Oh well our bad, we'll just have to be plagued by these pesky rights-stripping laws."
Signing a treaty is not the same as ratifying it. Ratification is necessary for it to go into force, and that hasn't happened yet. Countries fail to ratify treaties all the time.
But it does represent a "convenient" and yet bizarre disconnect between the policy makers and the foreign service.