Screw democracy! The IHT is running a story today that makes me wonder where the French ideas of equality and liberty have gone. In a debates about new copyright laws, in which the Senate wanted to make its classicly-French mark on European copyright law, the legislators ran into unprecendented lobbying, emails and contact from members of the public. Surely that would make you think again about your proposals, but the story goes on to quote Michel Charasse, ‘a senator since 1981′:
“Rarely in parliamentary life have those elected by the nation - deputies and senators - been subjected to so many letters, e-mails, menaces and pressures,” Charasse, said during the debate, to resounding applause from his colleagues. “I would ask the Senate staff to rigorously clean the corridors of the lobbyists from all sides who jump on us as soon as we leave the hall.”
Clear the corridors?! What, so they could get out without having to encounter the rif-raf of the public! I’m embarrassed for the French public that they have such disgraceful politicians as this!
IHT: In Paris, ‘iPod law’ unleashes lobbyists
Perhaps they need another revolution. They are certainly out of step with the French public, and they certainly treat sectors of the population with the utmost disdain and contempt.