[Popman]

Among them is a study on "robot rights." In a nutshell, if robots advance to some form of consciousness, they'd be entitled to welfare. The state would be obliged to provide "robo-healthcare," as the report puts it, plus no doubt robo-pensions and all the rest.

That will happen only after they get voting rights.

I can see it now: Moveon.bot

Maybe your robot will be deemed a 3/5 person, like the 3/5 Compromise our founding fathers put into our Constitution

[Sender]

I can see it now: Moveon.bot

Amnestia, no machine is illegal! We only do the jobs humans are too slow to do. Halliburton taken over by office PCs! Reporting for du-u-u-u...reporting for du-u...{We're sorry, but your government has encountered a problem and needs to close.}