Posted on 12/25/2011 10:59:15 AM PST by JerseyHighlander
One of the more interesting things about the whole SOPA/PIPA debate (and, as I've pointed out for many years, about any of the intellectual property policy fights) is how non-partisan they are. In fact, I think it's important that they're non-partisan, because when things become partisan, they become... well... silly (on both sides). SOPA/PIPA supporters keep touting how their bills have "bi-partisan" support, but I'd argue what's much more powerful is how the growing movement protesting these bills is almost entirely non-partisan. There are tons of people all over the political spectrum protesting, and none of the discussion has been about broad political philosophies or major party talking points. They've all been about the specific issues with the bill.
And that's creating some interesting opposition that may start to wake up Congress. We've definitely seen people associated with both ends of the political spectrum come out against the bills. For example, how often do you see Nancy Pelosi and Darrell Issa agree on something? We've also seen some prominent Tea Party groups, like the Tea Party Patriots, as well as prominent "left" movements/sites like MoveOn and DailyKos come out against the bill.
Now, Erick Erickson, the guy behind the rightwing site RedState, has said that not only is he against SOPA, but that he will do everything in his power to defeat any Republican who co-sponsors the bill. And he challenges people on the left to do the same with Democratic co-sponsors:
A fund should be created and the left should go out and find candidates to take on the Democrat sponsors. The right should go out and find candidates to take on the Republican sponsors.... The money should then be used to fund the primary challenges against the incumbent sponsors of SOPA. Let the right vet and direct the funding on the right so no one thinks the left is trying to pick the challenger and vice-versa on the left.He even admits that this might take out some politicians he really likes and supports, such as Rep. Marsha Blackburn (whose hypocrisy on the topic of regulating the internet, we've discussed in the past). As Erickson says:
Killing SOPA is that important.So important that it's worth campaigning and sending funds against candidates you otherwise agree with.
The same pofs republicans who voted for the detention bill will vote for this. Count on it.
If knowledge is elitism, what is ignorance?
Ron Paul is the only one I know of, and he’s vehemently against it.
I only visited this thread to try to find out what a sopa was.
I believe you are confusion knowledge with arrogance. It would seem I was only one of many here who was asking the same valid question regarding an arrogant supposition on the part of the OP. Are you going to turn out to be just as arrogant as well ignorant?
“I believe you are confusion knowledge with arrogance. It would seem I was only one of many here who was asking the same valid question regarding an arrogant supposition on the part of the OP. Are you going to turn out to be just as arrogant as well ignorant? “
Okay let’s not get sidetracked here. I didn’t know what SOPA or PIPA was till I came across this thread. But I quickly educated myself and realized what a travesty this is. There’s a lot at stake here for anyone who values the freedom we all enjoy to express ourselves online.
I’ve been aware of this for about an hour and so far I’ve signed that online petition, emailed my reps, and shared links to the story about this and the petition along with an explanation of why everyone (right or left) needs to sign it to my Facebook friends.
Let’s stop worrying about how the information was presented to us and focus on stopping this!
Basically, they mean ceding more power to the federal government by giving them the authority to shut down websites they don't like.
Thanks for the update and personal reminder contained within this thread.
How many times has THAT been said? We have judges in this country that decide upon themselves which laws THEY think are good for the whole country. If we continue to let these asswipes run our lives we will wind up like N. Korea or China.
Who knows what straw will break the camels back but eventually it will happen and it won't be good for either side.
Absolutely right! One fellow asked very nicely and was crapped on, I was unaware of what SOPA/PIPA was also.
I think a little bit of bed side manor needs to be improved by some here
Thank You.
SOPA = Stop Online Piracy Act
PIPA = Protect Intellctual Property Act
Details at post #28.
FRegards,
Tex
“This CANNOT be allowed to stand!
How many times has THAT been said? We have judges in this country that decide upon themselves which laws THEY think are good for the whole country. If we continue to let these asswipes run our lives we will wind up like N. Korea or China.
Who knows what straw will break the camels back but eventually it will happen and it won’t be good for either side.”
You’re right-I maybe used a bit too common a cliche-but again, let’s not get sidetracked here. This is not an issue that is before a court. We can and must stop this, and I actually feel pretty good that we will. I think this issue will resonate with more than just the political junkies, cause it has the potential to affect everyone that uses the internet.
I know, I know, in the long term, and in the grand scheme of where the winds are blowing, we are becoming more like China and N. Korea every day. I get that. But does that mean we just sit back and do nothing and let it happen to us? I prefer to keep fighting while we still have the means to do so. There’s too much at stake for us to play dead and let the statists walk all over us.
Eric is an idiot. Sopapillas are awesome with strawberries, honey, and vanilla ice cream.
Thank you for the ping!
Thanks for the ping. I agree that this SOPA bill is intended to impinge upon our freedoms.
Hollywood initially tried to make it partisan by buying off certain groups and politicians. It is intended to protect what many of us consider as the most worthless and disposable industry in America, the entertainment industry, but at the expense of political freedoms and innovation in much more worthwhile business sectors.
I have found that the Electronic Frontier Foundation is usually right on target with their analysis of such bills and in separating the politics from chaff, and thus I support them. https://www.eff.org/search/site/sopa
All too often bills become partisan for no good reason except that certain individuals on left or right get paid off to start the momentum. SOPA is bad news for American freedom and business. If passed it will help MSM and Hollywood maintain a stranglehold keeping Americans uninformed except for their agenda.
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