Quote:
Originally Posted by GlenBarrington
Our pork barrels are filled a bit differently. In the USA, you convince a member of Congress or a Senator to stick a piece of detritus into an unrelated bill...
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Yea, in the UK the bill's scope is defined by it's "long name". So for example the "Digital Economy Bill" (it's "short name") is formally:
"A Bill To
Make provision about the functions of the Office of Communications; to make provision about the online infringement of copyright, about licensing of copyright and performers’ rights and about penalties for infringement; to make provision about internet domain registries; to make provision about the functions of the Channel Four Television Corporation; to make provision about the regulation of television and radio services; to make provision about the regulation of the use of the electromagnetic spectrum; to amend the Video Recordings Act 1984; to make provision about public lending right in relation to electronic publications; and for connected purposes."
So you couldn't stick, say, something on gambling in there. (To pick a real example that made me go "wtf!" in America) I completely understand your soapbox, and feel the long names are a good idea, because they prevent hijacking.
But anyway, I'd not mind if they specified that the reader had to read standard-compliant files (ePub and PDF), had standard USB connectors and SD slots and was not tied into any single vendor...