The Conservative government’s most recent attempt at trying to mimic American style legislation borders on sheer lunacy.  One can understand that curbing copyright infringement in the new era of peer to peer file sharing, illegal downloading, and new-age piracy tactics is necessary.  However, the amendment to outlaw over-riding digital locks on legally purchased media for the purposes of format shifting is not only impractical, it is also a violation of consumer rights.  Therefore, although Bill C-61 does maintain that format shifting and time shifting certain media is allowed, the anti-circumvention provision simply counters those exceptions and renders them meaningless. 

Furthermore, if the government suspects a certain user is breaking the law, it can force the Internet Service Provider to disclose that user’s private information and that person can face a fine of up to $20,000.  According to a White Paper issued by a coalition of Canadian consumer groups, “the American Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) has created many problems - anti-competitive abuses, stifling criticism, repressing security research, undermining security, and after a decade under the DMCA, infringement of movies over file-sharing networks in the US is at an all-time high.”  This fact alone should deter the government from passing any legislation containing anti-circumvention measures.

Related to this topic is another controversial bill that the government is trying to pass without public consultation called the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA).  This bill would allow border guards to inspect ipods and laptops for infringing content, which is a total invasion of privacy and perhaps the beginning of the dissolution of democracy in this country.

The Liberals took our money and paid for it in the last election.  However, the Conservatives are threatening to take away our freedoms, which is far worse.

Being the first coloured presidential nominee in the history of American politics is certainly a proud accomplishment not only for the Obama camp but for America as a nation.  This obviously does not and should not absolve the heinous atrocities of slavery, or somehow indicate that racism is a thing of the past.  Obama’s victory is, however, a step in the right direction and one that history will remember regardless of the final outcome.

Much has been made about Obama’s incessant catering to AIPAC (American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee) and Israel in recent weeks.  Some have been critical of his comments regarding an “undivided Jerusalem” and his hard stance on Iran, whether illusory or real.  Since when did we start believing that politicians actually mean what they say?  The critics must also remember that Obama has been vocal about peace in the Middle East and has offered to talk to Iran, much to the distaste of right-wing neoconservatives and evangelicals. 

Anyone running for any public office, let alone the most powerful public office in the world, has to cater to the people that matter.  In a democratic system run by special interest groups, AIPAC is probably the group that matters and Obama knows he has to tell them what they want to hear. 

And let’s not forget that Obama was never the ideal choice for president to begin with.  Like other successful candidates, his campaign was funded by the corporate sector and powerful interest groups as well.  When it comes down to it, Obama is the lesser of all evils.  Many, including myself, would have preferred to see Democrat Dennis Kucinich or even Republican Ron Paul as the worthy candidates but that would have been a pipe-dream.  Neither candidate got the media coverage they deserved and were relegated to fringe status. 

Are we so naive to believe that Obama’s clamour for change is going to have a sudden effect on American foreign policy, or somehow result in a massive overhaul in health care?  Absolutely not, however giving these topics due consideration is a start.  As I mentioned in a previous article, the corporate elite and the military-industrial complex play a huge role in American politics and attempting to circumvent or ignore any of these factors is unrealistic.  At the same time we cannot allow these obstacles, or Obama’s need to gratify these obstacles, as a means to discredit the concept of change. 

Criticism and dissent result in change and encompass the true essence behind democracy, but cynicism merely maintains the status quo.  Change will come whether it takes five years, 50 years, or 500 years, but it will come only if we truly believe it will.