American Censorship SOPA & PIPA

[NedLynch]

Just my two cents, besides the fact that the suggested bills are an abomination:

The biggest problem in the US seems to be the unavailability of complete, neutral, factual and easily accessable news. The news media in the US are worse than bad, imo mostly because they are for profit companies.

Moreso than who controls money, who controls information is in power.

It is not that americans are stupid or do not care. When I came to US more than 15 years ago I immediately felt cut off from the rest of the world newswise, it's like living in a bubble or on another planet and it has gotten worse over time for sure.

The other thing is that americans actually felt they were making a change for the better for themselves and for the world by voting for Obama, or at least roughly half of the US, the other half is still stuck in their view that a country/government has to be run like a business and that capitalism = freedom and make their voting decision dependant on the candidates stand on gay marriage, abortion rights and religion while in the middle of two wars ( I remember the horrid 2004 presidential campaign).
And nobody can tell me that 8 years of George did not do their good part to transport the US and in consequence the world into the economic toilet. There are many who believe this was deliberate and targeted at the destruction of the middle class, since a strong middle class is a big factor in having an actually free people.

But alas nothing got better, the powers to be in the US are probably way beyond the grasp and control of the people and brick by brick, little by little, noticed or unoticed, freedom is being dismantled.
There are a lot of people here in the US who are dissatisfied, desperate and angry (pretty much everybody in my workplace) and yet feel powerless to change things and take control over their fortunes. If voting does nothing then what does?

The proposed legislation will not pass, this time, but the proposed measures will come back in one way or another. The control of the flow of information and the masses is way to important.

[CWMV]

...But alas nothing got better, the powers to be in the US are probably way beyond the grasp and control of the people and brick by brick, little by little, noticed or unoticed, freedom is being dismantled.
There are a lot of people here in the US who are dissatisfied, desperate and angry (pretty much everybody in my workplace) and yet feel powerless to change things and take control over their fortunes. If voting does nothing then what does?
...

Your previous comments aside, this part is beyond true.
My post over at SAS, as i am too lazy to re-type it!

And here is the great part!
I wrote three of my representatives in the last week. Jeff Denham (R-CA), Barbara "Hope she dies in a fire" Boxer (D-CA), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)( >).
Representative of the two political parties here in the US.
From Jeff Denham:

"Dear Mr. Dotson,

Thank you for your letter regarding intellectual property rights and content piracy online. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this issue and your opposition to the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), H.R. 3261.

Online content piracy is a major challenge to our intellectual property protection and is illegal. While the scale is difficult to gauge it is clear that piracy is a major cause of lost revenue for American firms both domestically and internationally.

It is extremely important that we continue to proactively take the steps necessary to ensure artists will keep producing the work that we all enjoy by protecting their copyrights from piracy. At the same time, we must always be wary of government regulation– especially in the ever-changing and expanding internet world. We must be careful that in our attempts to protect content and stop piracy, we must not unnecessarily hinder technological advancements and innovation.

On October 26, 2011, Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) introduced H.R. 3261. This bill aims to promote prosperity, creativity, and entrepreneurship by combating the theft of intellectual property. It would make additional enhancements of federal law to combat property theft. Like you, I have serious concerns with SOPA as it currently stands. The language is broad and could have serious unintended consequences. Congress needs to work with the technology and user communities to craft laws that protect against piracy without hampering innovation... "

And from Dianne Feinstein:

''Dear Mr. Dotson :

I received your letter expressing opposition to the "Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act," commonly known as the "PROTECT IP Act." I appreciate knowing your views on this matter.

The "PROTECT IP Act" (S. 96 gives both copyright and trademark owners and the U.S. Department of Justice the authority to take action against websites that are "dedicated to infringing activities." These are websites that have "no significant use other than engaging in, enabling, or facilitating" copyright infringement, the sale of goods with a counterfeit trademark, or the evasion of technological measures designed to protect against copying.

The bill does not violate First Amendment rights to free speech because copyright piracy is not speech.

America's copyright industry is an important economic engine, and I believe copyright owners should be able to prevent their works from being illegally duplicated and stolen. The protection of intellectual property is particularly vital to California's thriving film, music, and high-technology industries.

I understand you have concerns about the "PROTECT IP Act." While I voted in favor of this bill when it was before the Senate Judiciary Committee, I have also been working with California high-technology businesses to improve the bill and to address the concerns of high-tech businesses, public interest groups and others. I recognize the bill needs further changes to prevent it from imposing undue burdens on legitimate businesses and activities, and I will be working to make the improvements, either by working with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) or through amendments on the Senate floor.

On May 26, 2011, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the "PROTECT IP Act" for consideration by the full Senate. Please know I will keep your concerns and thoughts in mind should the Senate proceed to a vote on this legislation. As you may be aware, Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) has introduced similar legislation, the "Stop Online Piracy Act" (H.R. 3261), in the House of Representatives...''

Boxer has yet to reply, but I doubt I will receive anything different from that simpering socialist ninny.

What a crock!

[nearmiss]

Originally Posted by CWMV

Your previous comments aside, this part is beyond true.
My post over at SAS, as i am too lazy to re-type it!

You aren't alone by any imagination.

Read those congressional responses carefully, that you posted, realize one MOST IMPORTANT thing. They don't care what you think. They are empowered like never before. They don't give a whit for constituents views, they have the unions, community organizers and the media upholding their tenure in congress.

I read after Obama was elected that the media alone was worth 15 points to him in the last presidential election. McCain would have been a clear victor, except for the power of the media. I'm not saying McCain would have been any better, but he wouldn't have radicalized persons in such conspicuous authority. (czars). He would have been too aware of public opinion. Obama and his team don't care about public opinion they are empowered.

If the government is able to quash freedom of speech on the internet it could be the threshold event. People that are computer literate should build advocacy websites where people are enjoined. Young people should be extremely involved, because they are going to get to pay for the exorbitant wasting of America's resources and tyrannical government.

It is expedient, we must preserve status quo of the internet. Any government interventions no matter how small will be a step to taking it over and quashing free speech.

[Thee_oddball]

Originally Posted by NedLynch

Just my two cents, besides the fact that the suggested bills are an abomination:

The biggest problem in the US seems to be the unavailability of complete, neutral, factual and easily accessable news. The news media in the US are worse than bad, imo mostly because they are for profit companies.

Moreso than who controls money, who controls information is in power.

It is not that americans are stupid or do not care. When I came to US more than 15 years ago I immediately felt cut off from the rest of the world newswise, it's like living in a bubble or on another planet and it has gotten worse over time for sure.

The other thing is that americans actually felt they were making a change for the better for themselves and for the world by voting for Obama, or at least roughly half of the US, the other half is still stuck in their view that a country/government has to be run like a business and that capitalism = freedom and make their voting decision dependant on the candidates stand on gay marriage, abortion rights and religion while in the middle of two wars ( I remember the horrid 2004 presidential campaign).
And nobody can tell me that 8 years of George did not do their good part to transport the US and in consequence the world into the economic toilet. There are many who believe this was deliberate and targeted at the destruction of the middle class, since a strong middle class is a big factor in having an actually free people.

But alas nothing got better, the powers to be in the US are probably way beyond the grasp and control of the people and brick by brick, little by little, noticed or unoticed, freedom is being dismantled.
There are a lot of people here in the US who are dissatisfied, desperate and angry (pretty much everybody in my workplace) and yet feel powerless to change things and take control over their fortunes. If voting does nothing then what does?

The proposed legislation will not pass, this time, but the proposed measures will come back in one way or another. The control of the flow of information and the masses is way to important.

+1 well said