And I had dinner plans a day after that.

Gives me an interesting idea. Can't we somehow sic the bible thumpers on them for defying God or some shit like that? I mean, for a change they could do some good.

The US are a great country. It's the dipshits that run it that are pathetic.

Sure you can't. But then again, you're not selling the crap. For Mosanto, it's just the other way 'round. Just like the dealer selling dope blended with poisonous crap doesn't give a shit how it fucks up his customers, so don't they.

Sadly, I doubt it will end like those movies.

Reality isn't Hollywood. The bad guys tend to win out here.

Because of the golden rule: Those with the gold make the rule.

Well DUH! Whenever some CEO says "We won't do it" as soon as something they planned (read: quietly announced to test the waters) caused a public outcry, it only means "we're waiting for you to be occupied with something else".

They invested money inventing it, it benefits them, they won't just "forget" about it. They wait for YOU to forget about it.

Could you please be quiet? I can already see some pencil pusher go "hey, good idea!"

Hmm... if someone comes illegally onto my property after I clearly marked it, I may shoot him in defense. Say... does that work on that DNT too?

Please, oh please say yes...

Ya know, last time I checked it was still illegal.

And I bet it's been lobbied into existence by some manager who wanted to make sure we can't get rid of 'em... sneaky bastards...

I guess you're right. Maybe I should move.

Do you know a country that's not ruled by corporate dictatorships but by that "democracy" you talk about?

Last time I checked "Vote with the wallet" worked for the ballot box just fine. Of course, provided your wallet is big enough to buy the right politicians.

And now try to convince some government in a country the name of which ends in -stan that prosecuting spammers is a worthwhile endeavour. Hint: It's likely a big part of their GDP.

Please lemme be there, I promise I try not to laugh. Can't promise I won't laugh, but I'll try.

Another hint: Spam doesn't give a fuck about your local laws, and neither does it care for petty things like national borders.

The big boys in the industry ARE getting their shit together. That is exactly WHY we get legislation.

What did you expect, invention? Lobbying is where you spend your money these days as a company, not innovation. It's not the better product that makes the race, it's the better lobbying.

And why did it work? Noooo, not because Cobol is so great, or because programmers back then were so much better. The difference is simply that they had time to test it, and test it, and test it again, before it was finally deemed ready for shipping.

Today you get bananaware. Yes, bananaware. Matures at the customer.

Today, the deadline determines shipping date. Not "when it's done", but when the manager set some arbitrary point in time. Whatever we have at that point, we'll ship.

Now add that they hire the cheapest temps they can find instead of programmers with experience, and whoever has more than 2 years of XP tries to get the hell out and into some management position because the pay, let's face it, stinks, and you know why no program will EVER replace those dinosaurs.

They were programmed in a time when companies accepted that good software costs money.