EU Constitution - No Information

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Making profit through monopolisation, just like the French wine producers. We should radically change the range and lifecycle of intellectual property rights. Such changes made capitalism into what it is. Without decisive legal rulings and new laws on this point in 1750's Britain, there would not have been an Industrial Revolution to begin with. Changes which, by the way, constitute Britain's true contribution to mankind, not the afternoon tea-Empire-cricket nonsense. And we make capitalism into something different than it is now by changing them again.

The notion that a company should have any 'right' to the genetic make-up of a traditional Indian healing plant (the naim) that was developed over millennia of cultivation is not just a crime, it is a mistake, just like the foolish notion that French winemakers somehow 'own' a particular grape.

In Europe, you can't own anything that is naturally occurring, you can however, patent any modification to it, and (I think) any possible use for it. (quite a few patents needed for that), as long as the use is 'new' and non-trivial.

Intellectual property is one of the most important aspects of today's economy, you surely can't just dismiss them, it would halt or seriously slow down progress.

Oh, an nanny states have little to do with minimum wages. Collective bargaining is the operative principle here, the outcome being a more egalitarian, generally more pleasant society with less violence, higher mean education levels, more holidays, good work-life balance, etcetera. I like it that way. Europeans like it that way. Americans who think that notions of social progress somehow lack economic acumen should remember where capitalism (and any other worthwhile social and intellectual movement) started.

I agree, but sometimes we need to be able to make sacrifices, in a zero growth economy like Belgium, unions are still demanding as much as a 10% increase in wages next year, often in companies that are already in financial problems. Add to that the use of 'pre-emptive strikes' that seems to have become pretty popular (we had such a train strike two weeks ago) and you get a very twisted system.
We need to be socially responsible, but this means that we should also be responsible for what happens to and with 'our' companies.

Yes, major companies are more powerful than States now, but IMHO that won't last forever.
They can't just always move to cheaper contries, because in the end, no one will be able to buy their goods. It might sounds naive, but I can't see anything else happening, because the country they move to aren't becoming wealthier, while the country they left usually become poorer.

Yes, but then we'll have a global economic crises and we're still screwed, We'll have to start all over again.

Btw, the fact that consummers (sp?) are always looking for cheaper goods make them guilty for what is happening now.

Very true, a few years ago Renault closed a factory here which led to quite a drama. The next year, Renault sales had gone up in Belgium. Costumers are unaware of their responsibility. France might actually be the exception here. A lot of people seem to buy 'local' there.

And no, chineses are not *willing* to work for less money. They don't have the choice. I guess if you were to ask a chinese worker if he prefers to work in the chinese or european way, how many will chose to work 16 hours a day for nothing ?

But they DO work for less money, regardless. Companies are interested in cheap labour, how it is achieved concerns them very little.

This idea sounds indeed cool, but a similar system already failled in some communists states.

I think after the French revolution people experimented with similar systems and also failed, it might be that the system is not flexible enough.

I do believe me need a second democratic evolution, instead of 'we the government' it should also be 'we the companies'. People should by domestic products, support their companies when they are in need (not kick 'em while they're down at least) and create a healthy economic climate (lowering labour costs through the government), in exchange, companies will have a greater interest in staying were they are, and in employing locals. (They have to if they want us as costumers.)