Comments

• Fixerguy

  January 2012

  Ok, Congress, ENOUGH!  The CONSTITUTION of the United States Of America (which you have ALL SWORN to defend against all enemies foreign and domestic) REQUIRES the presumption that we are all INNOCENT until PROVEN guilty.  This means that the BURDEN OF PROOF OF WRONG-DOING LAYS UPON THE ACCUSER.
  If you pass this sham of a law you are in direct violation of your oath, and are guilty of treason!
  
• stancealii

  January 2012

  my parents moved here to america because it was a free land. if you allow shackles to be put on the most versitile and incredible organism of our day and age- the internet- what makes you any different from the selfish and condescendingly cold  and controlling dictatorish government my parents left? and whose to ensure this does not unraval the freedom on the web?
• Loretta

  January 2012

  I do hope  at the town halls everyone asks  Merkley and Wyden to vote against these two bills
  There are two bills currently being debated in the United States Congress which we believe are unnecessary and dangerous because
  they would effectively allow the U.S. Government to censor the Internet. Both
  bills - "The PROTECT IP Act" (PIPA) in the Senate and "The Stop Online Piracy
  Act" (SOPA) in the House of Representatives - would give copyright holders the
  power to block access to websites for alleged copyright infringement. There are
  already laws in place that compel Internet providers and websites, to remove copyrighted content in a timely manner without taking such
  drastic measures. This is important because it allows companies  and
  other social media, search and Internet providers to exist and innovate without
  the risk of onerous copyright liability.
  
  
  
• KelleyElston

  January 2012

  Wondering why this "Stop Censorship" message didn't appear on this web page until today, Jan.14th? The meetings that were being held here in Oregon that I could've and would've attended are already over. What can I do now? All I can say now is, I will in no way vote for anyone who is in favor of censorship of the internet. If parents are so lazy in their duties of parent supervision over their own children, or are the type that allow their children to view anything, and do anything that their child wants despite how horrible the thing, or the viewing of online content might be, then they shouldn't have children in the first place. Maybe, instead of censorship of electronic medias, the government should go after dead beat parents who lack the abillity or maturity to maturely raise children with caring and common sense of a loving and  intelligent adult. We who are good parents do not accept government as our "nanny" to watch over us and our children as some kind of safety monitor or all knowing guardian, telling us what we can, and cannot do. Our government can't even take care of themselves, or manage anything that they have been given charge over, why would we want them telling us what we can or cannot look at online?
• kayperkay

  January 2012

  Oregon is probable OK with Merkley....however Wyden 's record of voting entirely with the GOP establishment regardless of how his constituents in Oregon feel.
• Freedom_Fighter

  January 2012

  I oppose H.R. 3261: Stop Online Piracy Act!!!
  
  I oppose all freedom restricting laws!!!
  How dare anyone try and censor the WORLD wide web?
  If H.R. 3261 goes through I promise a REVOLUTION. i've had enough of this country and all their law's!
  
  What Happened to Freedom of speech?!?
  
  Will the american people ever have another opportunity to truly speak their mind? Not if H.R. 3261 passes.
  
  Warning: If the Government is granted permission to censor the internet in any case, I will quit the system! I will join any rebellion! and I WILL become a problem for them!
  
  Sincerely, an America-born Native American fighting to free oneself, and fighting to free everyone else. (e.g. You!)
• Freedom_Fighter

  January 2012

  We Need to Have The Freedom To Screw Up!
• SemlerPDX

  January 2012

  We do not need BIG BROTHER!
• Gremlin1384

  January 2012

  A simple statement: The potential for abuse of the system laid out by this law far outweigh the potential benefits. If additional enforcement of the internet is required (and I don't think it is), the laws must be clearer and less ripe for abuse. The internet is for the people, not the corporations.
• dfroomer

  January 2012

  This bill will violate First Amendment rights such as freedom of speech and freedom of press, so if this bill passes, congress will just be a sh*tload of hypocrites due to the direct violation of the Constitution. Is that what America wants? People who would pass a bill that violates our First Amendment rights? Of course not! America wants to be a country that protects the rights of its civilians, not a bunch of sh*theads who would turn their backs on the ideas this country was founded on! So kill the bill congress or else this whole thing will be one giant hypocrisy.
• judin

  January 2012

  Don't know if you'll accept me as I hail from Washington where my Senators have not gotten involved in this scam and power grab in the SOPA & IP Acts.  Shame on them.  The Freedom of the Age of Technology is being dissolved. Loss of freedom of speech on the internet is written into law by SOPA & PIPA. Stop Online Piracy Act-House of Reps - Protect Internet Providers -Senate. Both are contemptuously confusing but in the end, are bad for us people and freedom of speech online. 
• ryanog

  January 2012

  @ Fixerguy I admire your passion, and stance in opposition... However I am disappointed as I a am sure you will be to have to inform you that while "innocent until proven guilty" is a trustworthy policy, that predates the U.S. buy quite possibly thousands of years, it is most definitely, to my dismay not anywhere to be found in our constitution.  Rather then breaking something that is not in need of repair such as the parties with vested interest intend to do here, wouldn't it be wonderful if our congressmen and political powers that be focused on fixing things such as this (the lack of something our courts have held up as truth from nearly the beginning being a secured right for everyone).  It also disappoints me to have to reveal to you that in many cases tried in the U.S. the burden of proof is on that of the accused.  These are generally sex offense cases especially alleged against children.  It is undoubtedly a true saying "it is better that 100 guilty go free, than that one innocent man be incarcerated"  However our country is in a disarray that demands focus on the interests of the greedy and control of the impoverished, who were in many cases put there by those in control, and certainly remain there under this thumb, rather then to focus on the needs, and rights of everyone.  The 5th amendment does talk about our right to liberty, to pursue happiness, to due process etc.  Certainly these allude toward the wisdom of the aforementioned quote, and certain to all but those with insatiable appetites for power, and control, these rights are violated on a regular basis.   
• creatorsite

  January 2012

  Once again, the US Corporate Government is demonstrating their addiction to elite control.  The people have been fooled by that behavior too often now, which is why the empire is grabbing at straws with this flimsy idea of "for the people, by the people" BS.  Anyone reading these comments who supports the brain-dead "leaders," I suggest you upgrade your memory.  Take a good look around.  What policy in the last 10 years has improved life for you?  This current propaganda only keeps corporate power powerful.
  
• blackstar

  January 2012

  Fortunately for my fellow Oregonians, both Sens. Merkley and Wyden have both pledged their opposition to PROTECT IP. In fact, it is because of Sen. Wyden's hold in the Senate that the bill has been stalled for so long. 

  
  

  And for those who doubt my statement, I implore you to watch this video:

  
  

  http://wyden.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=25ee8d2c-14a0-4832-a821-aaaef19ad50f
• StopSOPA-HQ

  January 2012

  Senator Merkley did indeed declare his formal opposition to PIPA today: http://www.facebook.com/jeffmerkley/posts/10150488533301546
  Great job to all those who contacted him and let him know just how strong and widespread the opposition to this legislation really is!