Unabashed Activism

[earthling177]

Here are the letters I've just sent a few of our representatives. I'd ask you to contact your representatives too, but I suppose y'all have already done that. I figured I shouldn't just stop at my representatives too, so I wrote another few people who I thought should hear from the general population

Comments

[kirisutogomen]

Scott Brown is already on record firmly opposing SOPA/PIPA. I can't find any evidence that Kerry or Markey is willing to take a public stand. I've seen references to Elizabeth Warren being in favor of SOPA, but I can't find any direct quotes.

[earthling177]

I knew about Scott Brown's position, but it never hurts to email them so they can point out to how many people are sharing that opinion.

I'm confused by your mention of Elizabeth Warren, particularly when one of the very first Google results says, and I quote: "Elizabeth believes that illegal piracy should be punished, but she has serious concerns with SOPA and PIPA. They risk chilling the innovation, diversity, and free exchange of ideas that define the Internet and have shaped our increasingly interconnected world." (That's supposedly coming from her press secretary. http://addictedtoradio.com/wordpress-joins-blackout-against-sopapipa/ )

[kirisutogomen]

It's not especially confusing. I checked this morning and that statement didn't exist yet; I admit that I didn't check to see if she'd taken a stand in the afternoon, which apparently she did.

[earthling177]

I understand being in the situation of making a comment and finding out that the person you are commenting on changed their minds/made a statement you were not aware of. For example, I wasn't aware either that she had made that statement before you brought it up, so I sympathize.

On the other hand, I'll show my ignorance here by saying that I'm not even sure why you mentioned her in the first place -- is she in any position to do anything about the bills (and I mean anything more than you and me as citizens)? The people I wrote to are all in a position to affect the outcome directly, I'm only able to indirectly affect the outcome by expressing my opinion(s) to my representatives and hope they agree with me. Is Ms. Warren any better than you and I or the people I wrote to? Last I knew, she was hoping to run for office, but that's it, she's otherwise just an ordinary citizen for the purposes of the bills in question, no?

[melted_snowball]

I've never noticed Kristen Gillibrand to be especially progressive. (Then again, I also had to stop for a minute and remind myself that, actually, my federal legislators are the same as yours, unless re-districting has changed that fact. I did email Brown on DADT, but I think that was the last time I corresponded with a US politician.

[earthling177]

Senator Gillibrand lead the efforts to repeal DADT and I believe she's still one of the important go-to people for repealing DOMA. She might not be very progressive, but she's certainly not the most reactionary person in office.

Anyway, I figured one catches more flies with honey than with vinegar, no wait, is that true? ;-)