How do you expect anyone to respond to something like that? Are you suggesting programs are not algorithms? Can you point to an authoritative reference explaining the difference?
I gave my informed opinion on patents, unfortunately this site is turning into reddit just like reddit turned into digg.
Yes it's a blurred line, but I'd say most programs are todo lists, rather than complex algorithms of scientific merit.
For example, say the software that runs facebook - that's pretty much going to be 'grunt work' - lots of building blocks, shoved together, to make something work.
But a compression algorithm, has more of a basis in mathematics entropy etc.
My sincere apologies if this once again disappoints your view of what comments on hacker news should be.
(I have several software patents, but I firmly believe they are a terrible idea).