1. Neo on February 19, 2005 10:34 PM writes...

Is this sort of stunt allowed? Is it even constitutional? Allowing some politician to make a speech at the opening of a court case? I think this might be challenged under separation of powers at minimum. Somebody from the legislative or the executive branch trying to sway a judge, once that judge is already appointed, smells in my opinion. Unless the "somebody" is actually on trial, or is the plaintiff or something. Which is patently not the case here.

We can't allow Betamax to be struck down -- it will be the end of the US as a major economical power, when all major tech industries offshore. Already there's enough tech jobs offshoring to India and Southeast Asia. How many more people have to lose their jobs before the insanity stops? Or will it only end when the US is a has-been superpower like Great Britain is now, with most of its population on welfare or in the military as the only sure way to scrounge up three square meals a day? I hope it doesn't get as bad in Europe, but I fear it will -- and given that Australia has an evil DMCA like law and follows the US' lead on these matters, that means I'd have to learn another language just to get/keep a job in the world of the future ten years from now. And as likely as not it wouldn't even be French or Swedish or something but Hindu or Mandarin or Korean or something.

Dammit.