Horrible media-related bill passed in my country

"Can't you consult your constitutional court?"

Don't get me started on that.

Last time when the constitutional court stopped another, tax-related law, they just wrote a new law, so that from now on, the constitutional court has no right to veto tax-related laws any more.

edited 22nd Dec '10 4:22:02 PM by EternalSeptember

I'm pretty sure there's something similar to that in effect here in Canada.

Helpful Scripts and Stylesheets here.

Also in Australia, I think.

Now if you excuse me, Starfleet is about to award the Christopher Pike Medal to my dick. — SF Debris

Not on that level but yeah, there are Canadian content laws. It's not a biggie since most of the canuck stuff is pretty good but I shudder to think how much of this will be government "sponsored" television.

They made a law saying they can't judge on tax laws? Isn't that against the constitution?

I'm still in favor of revolution if they keep moving in this direction.

edited 22nd Dec '10 5:11:26 PM by thatguythere47

Is using "Julian Assange is a Hillary butt plug" an acceptable signature quote?

So long as they can still plausibly be voted out of office for legitimate opposition, revolution seems like jumping the (literal) gun.

Furthermore, I think Guantanamo must be destroyed.

I'd question the legitimacy of an election at this point.

Is using "Julian Assange is a Hillary butt plug" an acceptable signature quote?

I think a Supreme Court should have the power to shoot the PM/President in the face should the need arise.

edited 22nd Dec '10 5:49:17 PM by DasAuto

Now if you excuse me, Starfleet is about to award the Christopher Pike Medal to my dick. — SF Debris

There should be a video game about that. A violent video game.

edited 22nd Dec '10 6:40:44 PM by Chalkos

Are you kidding? How can people be happy if crime news are more than 20%?

What are your crimes, signature reader?

They have media content laws like that in a lot of Southeast Asia and China+Korea, mostly to marginalize Japanese television out.

"I didn't steal it; I'm borrowing it until I die."

Hopefully, that will take less effect as internet takes over more.

Fight smart, not fair.

You'll forgive me (and other Americans present) for rather wishing that would happen here  ^*

But seriously, why does the Hungarian government suck so much?

Only 20 years of democratic background. Even our most vocal right wing politicians were still raised in a (softer) dictatorship, and learned their basics there.

The bill reminds me of one incident in Germany,the "Spiegel scandal" less than 20 years after WWII. The government tried to ban "The Spiegel", one of the most popular political magazines. Let's just say they failed spectaculary, in what is now considered to be one major victory for the freedom of press. Hopefully things will end similar in Hungary.

"Westminister parliamentary systems, and by definition, most parliamentary systems, are for all intents and purposes, unicameral. It's not like the House of Lords would ever shoot down supply or anything. The minority is almost always irrelevant in a parliamentary system; this is an inherent, universal reality."

Wait- I'm confused. I thought the major limitation to abuse in a parlementary system was the near impossibility of any one party getting an absolute majority in a multi-party system- but you need an absolute majority to form a government- thus the need to form coalitions. Is that not the case in Hungary?

"We learn from history that we do not learn from history."

Thier parliament is dominated by two big parties of which one has an absolute majority by itself right now. No coalition needed. Hence the crackpot legislation.

That's what I meant with "ABUSE ME". If one (tightly knit) party controls the only chamber of parliament with an absolute majority in a parliamental system the control of the legislatives and executives will be in the hands of a very small group of people. The only thing limits thier power at this point are the courts and the only thing the citizens can do until the next election is to hope that the courts will stop the worst of it.

Of course, there is also the chance that those in power are using is responsibly for the benefit of thier people and the world in general .... -snort- .... yeah that's not gonna happen. Hoping for that is like never putting on seatbelts because youre hoping there will never be a crash or sudden stop. Ever. No, checks and balances is king.

Now if you excuse me, Starfleet is about to award the Christopher Pike Medal to my dick. — SF Debris

So how did they end up with this arrangement? What prevents people from forming more parties?

"We learn from history that we do not learn from history."

Financial support, I reckon.

"Wait, it's IV. Of course they are. They'd make IV for Dreamcast." - Enlong, on yet another FFIV remake

Thats usually the problem. And if the government controls the media as well...

The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.

There are minor parties, that are usually on the edge of getting into the parliament. Having two major parties isn't bad on its own, usually one of them wins only with a slight edge. The problem is, that four years ago, the other one fucked it up. Not a little, but a lot.

You don't have to take my word for it.

Hungarian Prime Minister of 2006 (in an Engineered Public Confession): There is not much choice. There is not, because we have fucked it up. Not a little but a lot. No European country has done something as boneheaded as we have. It can be explained. We have obviously lied throughout the past one and a half-two years. It was perfectly clear that what we were saying was not true.

And the people did the only obvious thing, and all voted for the other party.

It's kind of like what would happen to the USA if the next Wikileak would reveal that the democratic party is primarily funded by selling kids as sex slaves to China.

edited 28th Dec '10 11:08:38 AM by EternalSeptember

@Eternal September: Since I don't watch TV since 2003, the other part of the media law doesn't bother me much.

But if anyone dares to touch freedom of speech...

From 1st January, we will live in an interesting country...

"There are minor parties, that are usually on the edge of getting into the parliament. Having two major parties isn't bad on its own, usually one of them wins only with a slight edge. The problem is, that four years ago, the other one fucked it up. Not a little, but a lot."

About this: People were saying when they had the power, that "it can't get any worse." They were wrong. But I really don't see any other parties win an election currently. By 2014, maybe there is a chance to create a new party, but even this chance is really slim...

Now people are again saying: "it can't get any worse". I just can't decide if they are right or not... And in the next 3,5 years, it sure will get worse. Or there will be a revolution. Or something.

edited 29th Dec '10 2:59:58 AM by Sati1984

"We have done the impossible and that makes us mighty." - Malcolm Reynolds

The Media Authority's fresh move from yesterday:

It deserved it's own thread. Yes, it's that bad.

edited 30th Dec '10 3:56:20 AM by Sati1984

"We have done the impossible and that makes us mighty." - Malcolm Reynolds

The world sure does seem to be having a lot of censorship problems lately.

Genkidama for Japan, even if you don't have money, you can help![1]

http://www.blackout4hungary.net/en/

WHASSUP....... ....with lolis!

I was just about to post that link.

Even the guys at The Pirate Bay joined!

"We have done the impossible and that makes us mighty." - Malcolm Reynolds