[governance] critique of the IBSA proposal

[Paul Lehto]

On Sat, Sep 17, 2011 at 4:56 PM, Ivar A. M. Hartmann <ivarhartmann at gmail.com
> wrote:

> I would by default oppose a global body of IG run by gov representatives
> which is either suggested by Brazilian gov or influenced by it in any way.
> Just as an example, Brazilian law prohibited people from making jokes about
> politicians running for office during election periods. This was in force up
> until a year ago until the Supreme Court (not Congress, mind you) decided to
> put an end to it.
>

In the public sector (government), at least a Supreme Court, as in the
Brazilian example above, can correct a policy.

But, in the private sector there will be no such correction, *ever, and they
too have "no joking" rules.*

Using employment as an example, private sector bosses often have rules of
"no joking about the boss or the boss's interests or you will be fired".  In
every country I know of, such private sector "no joking" rules are
enforceable law.  Not only that, but there isn't even a reasonable chance
that the power of the private sector boss to prohibit satire and joking will
be open for *debate* anytime soon, much less that the ban on private sector
joking would change.  But *in Brazil's government, the no joking policy
changed, *thanks to the Brazilian Supreme C*ourt.**

Even internet providers terms of service will have non-disparagement clauses
and the like.  So, if you are effective enough ridiculing something
important to the private sector internet provider, you can have your
connectivity terminated.  If your anti-telcom humor is ineffective or no one
listens, I grant that you may have an illusion of "freedom" and you might
not be terminated.  (That's just the freedom to be irrelevant, not the
freedom to joke about or satirize the telcom.)

To oppose all government involvement is not only completely anti-democratic,
but in the case of the "freedom to joke" it is like going out of the frying
pan and into the fire.

*--
Paul R Lehto, J.D.
P.O. Box 1
Ishpeming, MI  49849
lehto.paul at gmail.com
906-204-4026 (cell)
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