Letter to MP over Digital Economy Bill

So letter-to-MP-writing time again.

They always say “be polite”, and sometimes I am, and sometimes I’m not… and sometimes I’m in between. Imagine I’m a nerd version of a cross between Shane McGowan and Hunter S Thompson – but without the talent, or fame.

You better believe I fucking mean it though.

Dear (Mr MP)

On the Digital Economy Bill again.

This bill needs to be stopped – it is a retrogressive and anti-democratic move, (according to leaks) drafted by the BPI. Why are these people so important that they’re getting to draft draconian laws against common-sense, and the interests of the general population?

– The entire moral basis of this bill is profoundly… immoral. The entire concept of Intellectual property in the 21st Century needs to be re-examined. Right now it’s a farce.

– The way that it is being rammed through is utterly disgusting and profoundly undemocratic.

– It is unenforceable, and will create one of the greatest evils that we humans are capable of inflicting on ourselves – institutions who’s job it is to enforce the unenforceable.

– If fundamentally rewires the basic building-blocks of the Internet (AKA net-neutrality), and forces ISPs to wire-tap their customers at the behest of foreign corporations.

Why? Why are you doing this?

This bill is absolutely a show-stopper for me. I’ll not only not vote for anyone responsible, I’ll actively campaign against those responsible. I’m serious, and I’m not alone – over 17,000 letters have been sent to MPs in the last week.

The Internet is the new 4th Estate – and more. It contains all previous forms of communication, from newspapers, to telephones, to simple letter-writing. The Internet is our central nervous system.

This bill is an attack on democracy.

So… thanks for your attention. One question:

What makes the BPI so important that they get to draft anti-democratic law that gets rammed through parliament – when it is clearly (hence the “ramming”) against common sense, and the interests of the general population?

Yours sincerely,

Nick Taylor