Sweden: Pirate Party may take Euro seat

[FutureTaoiseach]

Euobserver are reporting that the Pirate Party has leapfrogged the country's Green Party and may win a seat. Demographically, the party has the support of 50% of males under 30, and its membership has grown to 20,000, making it the 5th biggest party in the country. The rise appears to have been sparked by the controversial conviction of 4 individuals on charges of "establishment and maintenance of the Pirate Bay site".

Does Ireland need a pirate party, and what would its prospects be in this country? This is an especially pertinant question in the light of relevations in the press that 500,000 households in this State have downloaded pirated media, accounting for 50% of Eircom's broadband's data-load? Would you vote for such a party? Are the music/movie industry to blame for excessive pricing?

[jimmyfour]

Ireland needs *any* party that has managed to connect what goes on in politicians heads with reality.

However, the pressure to conform in Ireland is huge; as soon as decklanders pop a few sprogs they gain a reassuring warmth from "keeping the head down" while going for a few pints and spend weekends watching Tubridy.

There is no dynamic in Ireland at any age, so it needs a pirate party, anti-IRMA party, etc., , but will never happen.

[wysiwyg]

I'd agree with Jimmy.. for a country that prides itself on being the "fighting Irish"... we conform to rules faster even than the Germans

[mild]

connect what goes on in politicians heads with reality.

Theres the unlikely and then theres the outright impossible.

There is no dynamic in Ireland at any age, so it needs a pirate party, anti-IRMA party, etc., , but will never happen.

If it does, they got my vote.

[mild]

I'd agree with Jimmy.. for a country that prides itself on being the "fighting Irish"... we conform to rules faster even than the Germans

I think the "fighting Irish" usually means the irish americans.

We still have the traditional mistrust of authority, but not the will to do anything about it.

[TradCat]

STOCKHOLM -- A defense lawyer in the Pirate Bay file-sharing case said Thursday he will demand a retrial after the judge admitted he was a member of copyright-protection organizations.