West Virginia Blue
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Here in the United States we've always had a little bit of a problem reconciling the way we apply our ideologies at home and abroad. We have great expectations for foreign governments implementing the values we hold sacred in this nation, like democracy, self-determination and free speech. Unfortunately, our government sometimes feels less comfortable asserting these values domestically.
The most recent expression of this dialectic is in the US government's approach is in it's signing of a statement supporting a UN report asserting that access to the Internet is critical to individuals being able to enact their human rights. This occurs concurrently with a series of bills and industry regulations that would limit expression and free speech on the Internet domestically. The most important of these are:
1) SB 978, or the "10 Strikes" bill, which makes a minimal amount of unlicensed streaming a felony charge carrying a maximum of 5 years in prison.
2) SB 968, the PROTECT IP Act or PIPA, giving the government power to "seize" domestic sites and force search engines, ISPs, and other "information location tools" to block foreign "rogue sites" accused of copyright infringement.
3) A "3 Strikes" Policy not a law, but a dangerous industry agreement between ISPs and copyright holders to restrict the bandwidth and access of users who have been accused of infringement. The agreement would be based on 3 incidents of infringement.
Thats right... its going to be great when the Republicans are gone from office, and/or another reason to make sure they don't win in November. Here is another example of the kind of BS being enforced as a result of our Right Wingnut administration. Arthur Silber has the story on his blog about Sebastian Horsely whose book titled Dandy in the Underworld gave the US Customs Service reason to keep him from entering our country. The links tell this story far better than I can.
Read this story by Arthur and weep by clicking here. The story can also be read in the NY Times Book section by clicking here. (HT Crooks and Liars)
(I'm working on a longer post on this bill. I'm still formulating my thoughts. But I want to bump this up to keep the issue in the forefront. - promoted by Carnacki)
According to the Beckley Register-Herald, Del. Kelli Sobonya recently offered the following comments regarding the demise of SB600, which would have prohibited WV employers, landlords, and others from discriminating against others on the basis of their sexual orientation.
"Eventually, if the trend continues, no one could discriminate against anyone for any reason."
-- Del. Kelli Sobonya
Del. Sobonya, with all due respect, you may be interested in the following Public Service Announcement from President Josiah Bartlet of the West Wing.Thank you.
Our friends at Texas Kaos have an excellent diary entitled, "Why Gay Voters Must Keep Asking About Gay Rights!" It's a poignant reminder of the importance of gay marriage for securing basic rights of gay couples.
It should really be called "Why All Voters Must Keep Asking About Gay Rights." Read the tragic story and remind yourself this might have been about your daughter, your sister or, even, your mother.
And, really, does it matter if it is a family member who is the one suffering? Does not every member of society -- a loved one and a stranger -- deserve to live and die with dignity?
I sure wish more of our Democratic congressmen and Senators could say things about how the Bush administration behaves as well and as succinctly as former President Jimmy Carter does. He makes it clear in this interview with Wolf Blitzer on CNNs Situation Room how he feels about the Geneva Convention and that he knows our country tortures prisoners.
It just doesn't seem that difficult to speak clearly about Republican behavior, and yet we have so many Democrats that just can't seem to point their fingers at what is really going on.
Kudos to President Carter for saying the right stuff.
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