MP3's, porn, and priorities...

I admit it, I'm one of those crooks who steals stuff off the internet (eMule and WinMX mostly).

So when I see headlines like this I wonder if I'm going to come home and find my door kicked in and my computers confiscated by the feds. (None of the places mentioned are in MD, so I think I'm safe)

The article includes a quote from Ashcroft that "p2p doesn't stand for permission to pilfer" and that "the justice department doesn't stand by when theft is being committed" (in that case, John, go find my wheels).

I usually don't have a problem with Ashcroft. I think the whole boob and statue thing was overblown - I wouldn't want to give press conferences with a giant pair of knockers hanging over me, because I know everyone would be looking at the funbags and not at me. I don't think that he's crushing any civil liberties in fighting terrorism, and I think that the PATRIOT act is a reasonable set of laws that gives the government powers necessary to defend our country against those who want

But when I hear Ashcroft using the Justice department to go after file sharing or to crack down on porn, I can't help but cringe. If the RIAA and MPAA want to go after pirates like me, let them sue them. It isn't important enough to involve the federal government. As far as porn, if consenting adults want to watch other consenting adults do stuff, let them. Go after the kiddy porn pervs, but stay out of the rest. Use the Justice department resources for going after terrorists who want to blow us up, not computer dorks sharing mp3's.