Boycott Adobe… And your congressman.

Last Updated on September 30, 2010 by Dave Farquhar

Need reason not to buy Adobe products? This oughta do.
At work the other day, I wondered aloud if, since I don’t buy things from totalitarian countries as a matter of principle, if that meant I couldn’t buy American-made products. One of my co-workers said, “You’re such a radical,” in an at least semi-admiring tone.

That scares me. These days, when you oppose an unconstitutional law, have principles and stand by them, you’re considered a radical. Since when is it radical to believe that the Constitution should be followed, rather than only being used when you’re out camping and run out of toilet paper?

(added later)

You know what? I’m getting madder and madder. You know what I should have done a couple of weeks ago? And still need to do? I know that of my congressmen, the only one who has any interest whatsoever in what someone like me has to say is Sen. Kit Bond, but I need to write to Rep. Dick Gephardt, Sen. Kit Bond and Sen. Jean Carnahan, send them a copy of the Constitution, a copy of the DMCA, ask them to read both of them–THEMSELVES–and come to the same conclusion I did. Unconstitutional. Point out that a Russian citizen is being prosecuted like a common criminal for doing nothing wrong, that the criminal in this case is none other than the United States government. And then I need to tell them that, as fellow citizens of Missouri, they represent me, not the RIAA, not Hollywood interests, and not the big software companies. Their job is to protect me, not them. And, if charges against Dmitry aren’t dropped, and the DMCA isn’t repealed, I am holding them personally responsible–regardless of how they voted on the issue originally or vote on the issue in the future–and exercising my rights as a U.S. citizen to vote them out of office.

A small part of me still lives under the delusion that a few thousand carefully-worded letters to that effect might have a difference.

Anyone else interested in finding out?

Meanwhile, tell Adobe where there’s a painful place they can shove their software. None of it ever was all that good anyway.

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19 thoughts on “Boycott Adobe… And your congressman.

  • September 7, 2001 at 11:53 am
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    Everytime I vote, I exercise my right to boot "dick" G. out of office.

  • September 7, 2001 at 2:31 pm
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    I am in the very unique position to drive three miles to visit my representative. He’s also a good friend of my family.

    I’d love to set up an appointment with him (at his office – see my journal entry for today when it goes online) and talk about the DMCA and a few other things.

    Any ideas, folks?

  • September 7, 2001 at 4:21 pm
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    Hey Dave, I really don’t know why I was calling you Tom at last nights Bible study, so let’s just say that my brain was experiencing technical difficulties and now I’m fine.

  • September 8, 2001 at 2:46 am
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    Well, the literal meaning of "radical" is "going back to the roots" or fundamentals or primary factors – in fact, the growing point of a plant root is called a radix, from memory; and we used to talk about square roots being radicals of numbers. In that sense, I think your co-worker was probably exactly correct.

  • September 8, 2001 at 5:36 am
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    That’s why I always vote Libertarian, with little exception, because the demo-pubs are mostly the same result – less freedom for the individual. I know the reality is that the candidates I vote for most likely will never win, but I know for sure they won’t win if people like me do not vote how I should and just try to decide what I think is the lesser of two evils and vote for that person – which is how most people not tied to a specific party (the majority) vote.

    ……..Curtis

  • September 8, 2001 at 10:28 am
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    Curtis brings up an interesting point. I used to work for a couple of guys who were devout Republicans. They were more about punching a hole next to the elephant than thinking about the issues. That’s not healthy.

    These days we have the Perot and Nader effects. Folks I know who voted Perot thought they were voting for a populist. But their vote helped get Clinton elected by a non-majority vote. Gore supporters would say the same thing of Nader, except that I think his "fringe" status lessened his real impact. To much of the country, libertarians are "fringe" because they’re strict constitutionalists. But libertarian candidates have even less impact than Nader.

    The problem today is that votes of conscience are being cancelled by votes based on hype. The media sold Clinton, and an army of mindless automatons (sometimes known as "soccer moms") said "Dan Rather likes him, he’s cute, and he wants to take care of me". Like they were on the Dating Game. While Dole was far from perfect, at least he wasn’t a used car salesman.

    So we come to the real question: do we vote our conscience, or the least of two evils? Do we stand on principle, or help get the better of the realistically electable candidates in office? If our society wasn’t so mind-numbed, we’d be doing the former. To even consider the latter shows how screwed up we’ve become. It’s sad to think we ALWAYS have only two choices, but no third party candidate has much of a chance in this environment.

  • September 8, 2001 at 1:12 pm
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    People who vote a straight ticket are the ones who really scare me in this country. When you vote pure Dem. or Repub. you say to me, that you just don’t really care about the path this country takes.

    Steve is right, there’s not much chance of a thrid party person really getting into office in todays world. There are a few out there, the Minnesota Gov. for one. But most states would never elect an indepedent. Especially Missouri! This is a died in the wool almost 50/50, Dem./Repub state.

    Heck in MO. we’ll vote for dead guy, so that our Gov. can pick who he thinks should be our Senator. Last time I check the people where supposed to vote on who that should be. But then most Missourians aren’t too smart. I still cringe when I see a "still with Mel" bumper sticker!

  • September 8, 2001 at 3:04 pm
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    Stand on principle Steve, please, it’s the only way anything will change. I used to belive that my one vote didn’t count for much – and I know mathematically it still doesn’t – but, especially after the last election, i’ve realized that not voting for what I belive in is the greatest wrong I can commit. Here in California the LP has been growning at an astounding rate. I don’t know about your states, but you might want to look into the local LP party web site their to see how they are doing.

    One thing, I’m making a big assumtion that the LP is the way to go. For what I belive in, they are, if you look into what they stand for you may think so too. I’ve been a Libertarian for 9 Years, and have always voted such (of course with a few exceptions).

    ………Curtis

  • September 8, 2001 at 4:23 pm
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    Believe me, Curtis, I vote for the candidate that best matches my political make-up.

    This is an interesting topic. While I think our two-party system tends to drown out non-mainstream opinions, I’m glad we’re not dealing with a coalition government like Israel has. You’re asking for trouble when you’ve got every color in the political spectrum represented (I think they were at about 12 parties at last count; how could you even identify who was the best fit?). Apparently, the Dems and Republicans appeal to most mainstream Americans. But Hitler had a lot of appeal, too…

  • September 8, 2001 at 5:39 pm
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    I plead the 5th!

  • September 8, 2001 at 7:58 pm
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    Dave, you are correct to be mad.

    Now what about the %^%$^$%#!!! "Security Systems Standards and Certification Act"?
    (See http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,46655,00.html )

    I have already written my Congressman (woman) and Senators about this abomination. We all must take action our we will FOR SURE be buried. At least if we take action, there is a chance the principles of the constitution may again come to have meaninig.

    We should not roll over but engage in the battle.

    – Bruce

  • September 8, 2001 at 8:40 pm
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    I hadn’t heard of that one. The "Security Systems Standards and Certification Act" sounds a bit disturbing.

  • September 8, 2001 at 9:41 pm
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    A bit?

    That’s like saying that Bill Clinton had a bit of an eye for the ladies.

    This one does not sound good, if only for the potential of crushing alternative software movements like Linux, who believe in the freedom of openness and fully support "non-corporate" things like the ability to watch DVDs in Linux, or watch QuickTime movies in Linux.

    Stuff like that.

    I’ll be watching my legislators 8very8 carefully to make sure that they don’t try to pull that type of crap on this corner of the pond.

  • September 8, 2001 at 9:41 pm
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    A bit?

    That’s like saying that Bill Clinton had a bit of an eye for the ladies.

    This one does not sound good, if only for the potential of crushing alternative software movements like Linux, who believe in the freedom of openness and fully support "non-corporate" things like the ability to watch DVDs in Linux, or watch QuickTime movies in Linux.

    Stuff like that.

    I’ll be watching my legislators *very* carefully to make sure that they don’t try to pull that type of crap on this corner of the pond.

  • September 8, 2001 at 9:43 pm
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    Dreaded speed of Linux catches me again.

    Curse an efficient OS.

  • September 8, 2001 at 10:46 pm
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    I’ve read about this one. Basically, "Senator" Hollings is wanting the government to enforce "protection" on digital media. Using *their* approved security schemes. Hmmm, Orwell was only off by about 17 years…

  • September 9, 2001 at 7:22 am
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    An existing copy protection scheme would be the "zoning" of DVD. As an Australian I am in zone 4 and theoretically any DVD drive i buy in Australia can only play zone 4 DVD.

    When i purchased a DVD the salesman asked if i wanted a zone free add-on to my new DVD player. For $70.00 (about US$35) it was fitted and according to the salesman does NOT invalidate the warranty as it is factory approved.

    For another $70 he sold me a box which would allow me to record from DVD to video (the signal speed changes on the output??).

    This was a major retailer.

    Also who has been prosecuted via DMCA. A russian programmer who committed no crime on American soil. I suspect we are looking at a test case. if he does get convicted does America have a gulag:)

    Tim

  • September 9, 2001 at 12:19 pm
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    What this country is doing to that Russian programmer is absolutly sick. What’s even sicker, is now that he is jailed and about to be prosecuted, Adobe is trying to make it self look all nice and clean by saying they were wrong and he shouldn’t be. But they don’t want to do anything to help. That’s sick. You can bet that if the U.S. Gov. let this guy go, Adobe would probably change their attitude. It’s always easy to say you where wrong, but then to wash your hands of it.

  • September 9, 2001 at 12:29 pm
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    Clinton had an eye for the ladies? When did this happen?

    Just what we all need, the government deciding what security policies are needed. As we all no, they can’t even secure a laptop inside the Pentagon.

    I just saw a little flash on Fox News Channel about it. Though all it said was "nothing"!

Comments are closed.