I'm not defending SOCANS approach per se, I'm just drawing attention to the problem they are grappling with. As to everybody paying, it's basically the same as taxation. Some of my taxes pay for things I'm totally against like the Iraq venture, but I have no say in that.
I do think however that El Greco made a very good point about how these internet suppliers use our work to sell their product and they benefit financially by the service they provide. This should bring with it a responsibility. Socans case will bring this discussion to a point.Freedom without responsibility is license and this idea that the net should be free of all controls is what the debate is about.
I think the attitudes in Europe towards these issues is different to the attitudes in America, as I expect to see clearly defined in "Bowling for Columbine" which is on UK TV this coming weekend.