Wisconsin Congressman Steps Up to Oppose SOPA

[WMDogma]

Wisconsin Congressman Steps Up to Oppose SOPA

Congressman Paul Ryan promises to vote against the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act.


Since its inception in October of 2011, the ESA's own members []have come out out to voice their disapproval of the legislation. Now, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan has stepped up to join several other government officials standing in opposition to SOPA.

"The internet is one of the most magnificent expressions of freedom and free enterprise in history," Ryan stated in a press release earlier today. "It should stay that way. While H.R. 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act, attempts to address a legitimate problem, I believe it creates the precedent and possibility for undue regulation, censorship and legal abuse. I do not support H.R. 3261 in its current form and will oppose the legislation should it come before the full House."

Having been rather neutral on the bill so far, Ryan may have taken a stance against SOPA due to a recent Reddit campaign that is both aimed at preventing his re-election this fall and supporting his opponent Rob Zerban. He may have also have received a large number of complaints from his constituents regarding the bill, as opponents of SOPA are strongly encouraging people to contact their local representatives to voice their concerns of the proposed anti-piracy act.

Currently, the debate and final vote over SOPA are scheduled to resume later this month. If you're late to the party but still would like to join up in the fight against it, you can visit Stop American Censorship [http://americancensorship.org/] for more information on the bill and how you can help oppose it.

Source: Newser [http://paulryan.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=274134]


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[Kopikatsu]

Translation: "I would like to be re-elected, and this looks like the best way to get that."

Sole motive.

 

[Tireseas_v1legacy]

Translation: "I would like to be re-elected, and this looks like the best way to get that."

Sole motive.

After his extremely unpopular proposal for the US budget last year being dubbed "the Ryan budget plan", anything that associates his name with something else would probably be a move for reelection.

 

[Berenzen]

Translation: "I would like to be re-elected, and this looks like the best way to get that."

Sole motive.

That's the primary motive of every politican, really. But it is still a victory for us.

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

I will take his opposition of this madness and not complain since at this point I will take whatever I can get. So what if he's only doing it to get re-elected, what politician wouldn't?

If this means victory later on then I'm all for it.

 

[THEoriginalBRIEN]

You put us in a pickle , Ryan.

We all hate you, but we need supporters for the anti-SOPA cause.

You sly bastard.

 

[Omnific One]

And of course it's a young guy that comes forth. I expect half of Congress thinks the internet is a series of cans connected by string.

 

[godofallu]

I'm from Wisconsin and I wrote my congressman, but I have yet to hear a reply. In fact I don't even know my congressman's stance on SOPA.

I tried looking it up, but his internet policy page is all about his stance on net neutrality. SOPA never comes up.

So yeah I guess I fail at this whole "democratic republic" thing. Being an educated voter is so much harder than it should be, it's like these politicians all disguise their opinions in order to not offend anyone.

 

[Robert Ewing]

Looks like he's looking for a cheap and easy way to get re-elected... Well, if that's what it takes...

 

[Frostbite3789]

And of course it's a young guy that comes forth. I expect half of Congress thinks the internet is a series of cans connected by string.

"The internet? Harumph! Isn't that where you can get thems Dan Fogleberg, Pac Mans vidgergames and Hula Hoopies delivered to you by the magic fairy man in the brown truck?

Harumph to that I say! Sounds like wizardry we don't need! Kids these days need to be churning more butter and planting more crops!"

 

[Stilkon]

Having been rather neutral on the bill so far, Ryan may have taken a stance against SOPA due to a recent Reddit campaign that is both aimed at preventing his re-election this fall and supporting his opponent Rob Zerban.

And I thought Paul Ryan was a piece of shit before. Here's hoping that he doesn't get reelected.

 

[ph0b0s123]

While the potentially internet-shattering bill

For the US. Please give up this 'it will break the whole internet' thing. Those of us in other countries will see a decrease in quality and quantity of content, but our internet will be fine. Those who are non english speakers will see no difference.

 

[Tiger Sora]

Isn't this the same jerk who took away the collective bargaining rights of the teachers union in his state.

Lets just hope this all gets sorted out before he loses his job.

 

[ShaneGunWolf]

Thank you, Ryan.

You still suck, but thank you.

 

[Ragnarok185]

easy way to get re-elected. do what the public wants. SOPA gives people power and people with power are corrupted.

 

[Ragnarok185]

This is fucking appalling. Nowhere in the bill is freedom of speech impinged upon, unless you think being dedicated to theft and/or copyright infringement somehow is your legal right as a US citizen. All this opposition shows it mass ignorance.

[HEADING=1]Everyone, read the actual Bill before screeching it's evil. [/HEADING]

the Bill itself is not evil. its what people can do with the Bill if it passes.

 

[LGC Pominator]

This is fucking appalling. Nowhere in the bill is freedom of speech impinged upon, unless you think being dedicated to theft and/or copyright infringement somehow is your legal right as a US citizen. All this opposition shows it mass ignorance.

[HEADING=1]Everyone, read the actual Bill before screeching it's evil. [/HEADING]

Ouch! My ears! quieten down would you?!

The problem with the bill is the power it gives to companies to restrict access to their content, and completely disable websites suspected of breaching copyright without a legal investigation, further damaging America's beloved "right to a fair trial" BS that they claim to give for all things whilst letting innocent people rot and face torture in Gitmo, quite frankly the reason people are up in arms about it sir, is not because it affects piracy, it affects any content provider who hosts something that a corporation doesn't like.
If, for example, Hasbro suddenly decided that they should be paid for the My little Pony episodes on youtube, they would have the power to disable that site, and by extension, shut down sites that link to that content, so byebye reddit? facebook? Escapist? (we do have a pony group!) The ability it gives to corporate entities is terrifying, and that is the problem we have with it.

On a side note, does anyone else think that the republicans love of small government and less regulation on private enterprise has lead to private enterprise BECOMING the de-facto government in the united states? because from an outside perspective that seems to be the direction the US is going in and it is scary!