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Monday, November 21, 2011

SOPA: The Censors Are At It Again In The US


Don't worry, America, you'll get used to it!"

Image Source: Public Disgrace ... how fitting!

The filthy, cretinous thieves who inhabit the halls of Congress are at it again: they're looking at a bill called the Stop Online Piracy Act that, as written, will allow sites to be shut down merely on an accusation of piracy violation. Basically, it's larcenous politicians taking money from big-money media companies like the Recording Industry Association of America and Time-Warner, to pass a bill that will allow them to run roughshod over the Internet in the name of profits. You're probably sick of hearing about it by now, but hell, we gotta stop this thing or freedom of speech on the Internet will be a thing of the past.

And of course, I have self-interest here. If the big media companies can establish a mechanism for censoring the Internet, every asshole special interest that wants to control others' thoughts will be dying to get their filthy paws on the censorship control panel. And first in line will be the right wing social conservatives who hate porn, and the prudo-feminists who hate porn. They still exist, and if there's an easy mechanism already extant for censoring, you can bet they'll try to slide a bill through to censor the porn out of the Internet.

Here's an Electronic Frontiers Foundation (EFF) site that provides a mercifully brief summary of the dangers posed by SOPA and its sister bill, the PROTECT IP act. Neither of these bills will do what they say they will, they are just stalking horses for censors. EFF also provides an easy way for you to contact your Congressional representatives. Let your voice be heard, before it's too late!

2 comments:

Jonty said...

Yes, but the bill could create countless new jobs & be good for the economy.
And if that means free speech & the internet going to hell in a handcart, then surely it's a
price worth paying!!

Pat Powers said...

Yeah but it will create countless new jobs IN OTHER countries and be good for THEIR economies as Americans go searching for foreign ISPs that aren't blocked by US censorship. I saw a story about a Russian publication pointing out that America was joining China in censoring the Internet. Stings, but oh, so true.