[Bellflower]

Does this bill have more in it than just protecting against piracy? Other than that, which is understandable that they would want protection, but I thought there are plenty of laws against piracy already, how does it infringe on our freedoms? Can someone please explain to me it’s more far reaching effects and if it is so negative to our freedoms isn’t it the Republicans who are pushing the bill?

[Blue Ink]

This bill gives the government unprecedented power to shut down websites and regulate the internet under the cloak of combatting piracy.

[the anti-liberal]

SOPA, PIPA Threaten Free Speech, First Amendment

[af_vet_rr]

how does it infringe on our freedoms? Can someone please explain to me it’s more far reaching effects and if it is so negative to our freedoms isn’t it the Republicans who are pushing the bill?

Say this legislation passed and Obama signs it (and I think he would, regardless of what he says).

Pretend you are a liberal who wants Free Republic shut down. Start posting links to copyrighted material or post copyrighted content to Free Republic (videos, pictures, etc.). Under this legislation, Free Republic and Jim Robinson are now considered to be responsible for enabling copyright infringement and FR could be shut down or blocked. It doesn't matter that you were the one that posted those links and that material, Jim Robinson will be held responsible. It would not be easy for Jim to get Free Republic back online either. The process is convoluted and designed to be difficult.

It's all too easy for liberals to shut down websites over this. Lamar Smith (makes me want to puke) claims that it wouldn't be abused or that far reaching. Think about that for a moment - a Republican telling us that it would never be abused even though we have a wannabe Marxist sitting in the White House.

Of course, what Lamar won't tell you is that over the last 10 years, Hollywood as a whole has been one of his top three donors every election. For 2012, Hollywood is is his biggest donor.