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SOPA Hearings Delayed, 140,000 Americans watched the hearings

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Re: SOPA Hearings Delayed, 140,000 Americans watched the hearings

#21

Post by darrenkopp »

nextparadigms wrote: post #12
darrenkopp wrote: post #5

During that time we should compile a list of all representatives that support this bill and any/all donations and from whom those donations came from to support this bill. When the money trail is out in the open, I think both the representatives and the donors may be more timid about pushing forward against an unpopular bill like this.

I thought I'd throw this in here, too. These are the sponsors of SOPA and PIPA, and how much they received for it: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20111203/00494716961/some-d...

That's awesome, now we just need to figure out who the companies were. Thanks for that link.

Re: SOPA Hearings Delayed, 140,000 Americans watched the hearings

#22

Post by davidw »

darrenkopp wrote: post #5

During that time we should compile a list of all representatives that support this bill and any/all donations and from whom those donations came from to support this bill. When the money trail is out in the open, I think both the representatives and the donors may be more timid about pushing forward against an unpopular bill like this.

sopahitlist.com is available. Perhaps it's too violent sounding, so better ideas are welcome.

It'd be a list of SOPA supporters in Congress, and encouragement for their constituents to call in and say something, and/or vote for the other guy at the next election.

Re: SOPA Hearings Delayed, 140,000 Americans watched the hearings

#23

Post by electromagnetic »

I fail to understand why taxpayers pay $174,000 as a salary to Congressmen given that 261 of them are millionares. Furthermore, I don't get why they're given a wage when dozens of them are being handed this salary or more on a single issue. McCain got paid almost 12 times as much on this bill as his wage.

Re: SOPA Hearings Delayed, 140,000 Americans watched the hearings

#24

Post by yuhong »

Bobby_Tables wrote: post #17

Lamar Smith needs to be sent a very clear message, in the form of a landslide defeat in the next election to someone along the lines of Darrell Issa. What would it take to make that happen? How do we (the tech community) recruit someone that has the poise and fundraising ability to win an election? What do we do once we find someone? Smith seems to be Public Enemy #1 on this issue, and I believe he represents a part…

FYI: http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/nehr6/as_requested...

Re: SOPA Hearings Delayed, 140,000 Americans watched the hearings

#25

Post by darrenkopp »

electromagnetic wrote: post #23

I fail to understand why taxpayers pay $174,000 as a salary to Congressmen given that 261 of them are millionares. Furthermore, I don't get why they're given a wage when dozens of them are being handed this salary or more on a single issue . McCain got paid almost 12 times as much on this bill as his wage.

In a perfect world, paying them salary would hopefully make them ignore individuals/companies offering them donations in exchange for favorable legislation because they already were making a good wage.

In the real world, it's just a $261,000 bonus.

Re: SOPA Hearings Delayed, 140,000 Americans watched the hearings

#26

Post by waqf »

aj700 wrote: post #19

As a European, just let me say, oh great, now I have to run a Tor relay/bridge for the entire United States, and I'm not sure my basic adsl or my poor little mac mini can cope with that... " ...and routes around it! "

Tor? Why not I2P? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I2P http://www.i2p2.de

Re: SOPA Hearings Delayed, 140,000 Americans watched the hearings

#27

Post by kwantam »

hastur wrote: post #16

I live in Poland and I watched almost the whole hearing because I care. (Although we have a bigger problem in the EU right now - ACTA is about to be signed by the Commission, Parliament vote pending in a couple of weeks.) Big thumbs up for Congressmen Issa (R-CA), Polis (D-CO), Lofgren (D-CA) and Chaffetz (R-UT) for their performance. Remember those names if you vote in their districts.

Not just if you vote in their districts!

For many people, congressional elections are decided before the race even starts. The best way to make your voice heard if you're in this position is to donate to closely contested campaigns in other districts.

As someone who votes in Texas, I'm intimately familiar with the "my vote simply does not matter" situation. Instead, I (literally) vote with my wallet.

Re: SOPA Hearings Delayed, 140,000 Americans watched the hearings

#28

Post by gospelwut »

darrenkopp wrote: post #25
electromagnetic wrote: post #23

I fail to understand why taxpayers pay $174,000 as a salary to Congressmen given that 261 of them are millionares. Furthermore, I don't get why they're given a wage when dozens of them are being handed this salary or more on a single issue . McCain got paid almost 12 times as much on this bill as his wage.

In a perfect world, paying them salary would hopefully make them ignore individuals/companies offering them donations in exchange for favorable legislation because they already were making a good wage. In the real world, it's just a $261,000 bonus.

They horde money for campaign (ads). The notion that they are doing a Scrooge McDuck in taxpayer money is generally false. I'm not putting the onus on the taxpayer, but attack ads and the like are extremely effective and... expensive. Their number one goal is to get (re)elected and money=>ads is the most effective way to do it. Standing on principle and making articulated arguments just polarizes.

Re: SOPA Hearings Delayed, 140,000 Americans watched the hearings

#29

Post by electromagnetic »

gospelwut wrote: post #28
darrenkopp wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In a perfect world, paying them salary would hopefully make them ignore individuals/companies offering them donations in exchange for favorable legislation because they already were making a good wage. In the real world, it's just a $261,000 bonus.

They horde money for campaign (ads). The notion that they are doing a Scrooge McDuck in taxpayer money is generally false. I'm not putting the onus on the taxpayer, but attack ads and the like are extremely effective and... expensive. Their number one goal is to get (re)elected and money=>ads is the most effective way to do it. Standing on principle and making articulated arguments just polarizes.

This is why in parliamentary systems the MPs get a wage and get campaign funding (IIRC respective to their previous campaign share, IE the incumbent gets the most).

What I don't get there is that they still get payoffs, but we're talking a private jet flight versus $2 million in cash.

Re: SOPA Hearings Delayed, 140,000 Americans watched the hearings

#30

Post by Newgy »

electromagnetic wrote: post #23

I fail to understand why taxpayers pay $174,000 as a salary to Congressmen given that 261 of them are millionares. Furthermore, I don't get why they're given a wage when dozens of them are being handed this salary or more on a single issue . McCain got paid almost 12 times as much on this bill as his wage.

The one way to ensure that all Congressmen are millionaires is to take away their pay. Honestly, the salary is already too small, they have to maintain a second residence in DC, which is one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country. In all seriousness, $174,000 is not enough money to support a family in a middle class lifestyle in DC. A townhouse in a safe neighborhood is $5,000/month, most of the public schools are terrible and the private schools expensive, and the local taxes are extremely high.

Also lawmakers can't spend their campaign warchests on personal items.

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