Top Priority for ME: Set up Meetings
There aren't any public events yet, so the most important thing is to get meetings with Senators. Here's what you need to do:
- Fill out this form or call (207) 874-0883 to meet with Senator Snowe, who has no public position on this yet.
- Call (207) 780-3575 or fax 207-828-0380 to meet with Senator Collins, who has no public position on PIPA yet.
Be polite and professional, and request a meeting on behalf of Maine for Internet Freedom (the folks in this forum) to discuss the PROTECT IP Act and SOPA. Make it clear that you want to meet with the Senator during the January recess, and that you'll be bringing others from your group. Have your calendar open when you call, so you can pick a time that works for you. When finished, post a report-back.
For example: "Hi, my name is ________, I'm with Maine for Internet freedom, and I'm calling to request a meeting with Senator _______ during the January recess. The PROTECT IP vote is happening on January 24th, and I wanted the Senator to understand my concerns before the vote happens."
IMPORTANT: If you do get a meeting, post another message. That way others can join you in your meeting. If there's any other specific information we should include in this post, message us and we can add it.
Comments
http://qkvllzx.tumblr.com/post/14744787029
How can a country so firmly founded on basic freedoms have wandered so far from those foundational tenets?? Benjamin Franklin, James Madison and the rest of the authors and signatories of the Constitution of these Great United States would be dumbfounded and speechless to see what is going on right under our very noses. Is anyone else as angry and fearful as I am???
@hkivhk I'm willing to go to Bangor (from the coastal area) to meet with Senator Collins to add to your group size. I might be able to gather a few people as well. Please update us on a possible meeting date.
It appears money is directing most of our political results these days. If sopatrack's numbers are right, here are sad indicators of how our representatives will be leaning on this issue:
http://sopatrack.com/state/maine
Collin's office had me email maria_plakoudas@collins.senate.gov regarding a meeting. She also has not announced a position yet. No events either.
Michaud's office didn't have answers regarding his position or possible public events. They would get back to me with that. As far as a meeting, they told me they would have their scheduler (Diane Smith) contact me. His website has a form for requesting a meeting.
I have not heard from Senator Collins' or Congressman Michaud's offices yet.
Short answer: the more the merrier, write emails via his website for his staffers in DC
Long answer:
There will be no meeting with Congressman Michaud. I'm told Tuesday he is going back to D.C. I made it clear I am interested in a face to face meeting. I was told perhaps on one of his return trips we can meet. This is important to me as there are other issues I wish to discuss (as my tag name would suggest). I'm told they will get back to me.
John said there have not been many calls about this and he was happy to have my call. I asked of the congressman's position and was told he will not have a position until after the house judiciary comes up with the final bill.
With John I pointed out this SOPA/PIPA effort is flawed for many reasons with potential of dire consequences and pressed about why the Michaud does not even have a position against this effort as it stands and wants to wait until later to take a position. The answer was informally that Michaud is not for this but has learned bills can change a lot in the process and wants to see what results from the judiciary committee. I tried to communicate that the position should be there is no need for this discussion at all...the discussion should be to close this out...not what might or might not be in the bill.
For now, it's wait and see. Email his staffers in DC.
Go to www.congress.org and put in your zip code and they'll provide links to your representatives. You can go to their web sites and submit your thoughts. It will only take a few minutes.
I'm still trying to get just a response from Sentator Collins' office. Still no word if they'll allow any kind of representation from the People.
I'll call both tomorrow morning when they reopen.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/World-against-SOPA/304313362953003?sk=info
first step:
1._ No subscriber to this group will ever buy a under copyright item
2._ No subscriber to this group will ever go to a cinema
3._ No subscriber to this group will ever buy film on pay tv
4._ No subscriber to this group will ever buy a book (paper or e-book)
5._ No subscriber to this group will ever buy a news paper
6._ No subscriber to this group will ever buy a magazine of any kind
7._ No subscriber to this group will ever buy a CD
8._ No subscriber to this group will ever buy a DVD
Hopefully this bill will be thrown out with the bathwater. It goes entirely against the moral grounds of democracy and freedom of choice. What is more, it merely makes the lawmakers nothing more than lackeys, for the film and music moguls, together with publishing house proprieters. PLEASE, all you American voters who access the net, STOP this bill. It not only affects YOUR freedom of choice, but it affects mine as a British/Limey freedoms too. Which would make your congress more of a dictatorship, than a democratic organ of government.
I remain, with respect.
Grey
after letting NDAA (bill S.1867) pass without a hitch and now trying to pass sopa and pipa its time to replace some of these senators that have forgotten what there jobs are and what america stands for. by taking these rights away from the people, they mock everybody that has ever fought and died for this country.
this is no differant than hitler burning books.
ps we all thought obama would veto the NDAA, but surpise!!! lets not let sopa or pipa get that far.