Take action against SOPA/PIPA
“Going black” is all very nice but the people who are voting to make this thing a reality aren’t looking at your Tumblr. They are looking for your vote to keep them in power, and you have to show them how they’re going to lose that vote if they pass the bills.
I have written to both my Senators, and received responses from both. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) is a co-sponsor of PROTECT-IP and his response to me reflects that. I am extremely disappointed and have told him that by voting for SOPA or PIPA he is losing my vote.
Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) wrote me back almost within 24 hours with a very sort of non-committal letter; he also seems to believe this is a good idea. Since I’m not a registered republican he probably doesn’t care if he “loses” my vote, but he still has to get re-elected every year.
I have not yet heard from my Representative (Luis V. Gutierrez, D. district 4).
Contact your Senators and tell them they lose your vote if they support these bills.
Find your Representative and do the same.
Lobbyists have convinced these elected officials that censoring the internet is necessary for prosperity, but only for the institutions represented by the lobbyists. One vote may not be much, but its more than nothing.
And another thing: We can have (and probably should have) an endless debate about the role of money in politics, but the fact of the matter is that the MPAA donates a lot of money and therefore has a lot of influence. No one of us can match that, but by donating to an organization that opposes SOPA/PIPA (might I recommend the EFF?), we can help level the playing field.
I called my Senators and Rep. Because I don’t have $94m.
