Sorry Huck, but I don't feel a single pang of guilt about downloading music. Dishonest and immoral as that may be, your argument just doesn't persuade. Now, if you want to put some time and effort into figuring how to package your product so that it doesn't lose value once it flows out into the public realm . . . well then you have my support.
I'm sorry, but musicians and most entertainers just have too high of an opinion of themselves these days. I'm not sure that the guy who brought us "Gettin' Jiggy Wit' It" deserves to be a multi millionaire. So, I just don't feel bad when some pimple faced punk downloads some Fresh tracks. If you don't like it and it's no longer profitable for you . . . then stop doing it. Go make an honest living creating something of value that really can be stolen. Either that, or just keep pimping yourself to the advertising executives and the record company fat cats in hopes of making undeserved millions. The rest of us will just keep downloading your product and buying lottery tickets.
The person who wrote the "Jiggy" thing absolutely deserves his money, because people volunatrily went out and purchased copies of the song. Just because YOU don't like the song doesn't mean you have the right to steal from him, or deny him the fruits of his labor. Just because you don't like the free market doesn't mean you have a right to deny it to others.
Are entertainers and musicians not deserving of the same property rights as other members of society? Who are you to tell someone to *make an honest living* when you freely admit to being a thief? The problem is people like you who in your own words, don't feel a pang of guilt about something you admit is *dishonest and immoral*.
It is. It's theft. You are a thief, but don't worry. Most thieves feel no guilt. You and Slick Willie are peas in a pod. Enjoy.
Here's another anti-capitalist. See? It's ok to steal because Will Smith doesn't "deserve" to make all that money. Ted Kennedy would be proud!