lorenius » politics http://lorenius.com Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:05:15 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 My Senator at Work (PIPA/SOPA) http://lorenius.com/2012/01/my-senator-at-work-pipasopa/ http://lorenius.com/2012/01/my-senator-at-work-pipasopa/#comments Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:05:15 +0000 lorene http://lorenius.com/?p=1390 Continue reading →]]> It’s interesting to see directly how we influence our government representatives. Back in early December I had contacted my Senator, Bob Menendez, regarding SOPA/PIPA via Fight for the Future.
This is the email I received on December 10, 2011.

Dear Lorene:

Thank you for contacting me to express your opposition to S. 968, the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property (PROTECT IP) Act.  Your opinion is very important to me, and I appreciate the opportunity to respond to you about this important issue.

The PROTECT IP Act would prohibit foreign websites, formerly operating outside the realm of U.S. law, from exploiting U.S. Internet service providers, payment processors, search engines, and ad placement services.  However, many have expressed concern that the legislation does not create an adequate procedure for review, and could lead to websites being shut down without sufficient evidence of illegal action by the host site itself.

As Internet technologies rapidly change society, we must work to ensure that our laws continue to reflect the values most important to us.  It is imperative that we continue to respect property rights, and protect copyrights and intellectual property.  Yet it is equally essential that we protect the fundamental right of freedom of speech, and do not permit baseless censorship of content.  Please be assured that I will work with my colleagues in the Senate to best address these issues, and continue my commitment both to protecting property rights and preserving freedom of expression in all public mediums.

 

Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.  I encourage you to contact me if I can be of further assistance on this or any other concern.  I also invite you to visit my website (http://menendez.senate.gov) to learn more about how I am standing up for New Jersey families in the United States Senate.

Earlier today I heard from Fight the Future that Congress had shelved both PIPA and SOPA. Then a little while ago I got another email from Senator Menendez.

Dear Friend,

Thank you for taking the time to weigh in on the Protect IP Act (PIPA).  The debate about intellectual property and the freedom of the internet has brought to light the valid concerns of thousands of citizens who normally remain on the sidelines, but who have a deep and abiding concern in preserving the integrity of the internet.

Your interest, and the interest of thousands like you who have contacted my office by phone, through e-mails, Facebook posts, or Tweets, has been loud and clear.  That’s why I told the Senate leadership that I could not support the legislation.  This is what a healthy democracy in action looks like in the digital age.  I’m proud that my voice could be your voice in Congress.

From a highschooler who said that many of his core principles are aligned with mine, but felt this piece of legislation may prevent the next Arab Spring from happening – to a businessman who said we cannot risk alienating our young people by passing a bill they do not support – I heard you New Jersey.  And what you told me was clear: you felt this legislation as drafted would constrain free speech, curtail innovation and discourage new digital distribution methods.

I believe we have to protect free speech on the internet, but we also have to prevent the theft of intellectual property from the people who create it. You have made me and many others realize that we need new legislation that can do both – we can protect our creators without limiting the endless possibilities of a free, open, and fair internet.

America’s best and brightest created the internet and changed the world.  And American ingenuity, creativity, and hard work developed the world’s best medicine, music, art, movies, fashion and have made extraordinary scientific breakthroughs.  So I am confident, moving forward, Americans can come together to protect the freedom of the internet and, at the same time, protect intellectual property from piracy.

Again, this is your victory.  I’m proud to represent a state where the constituents take their civic responsibility seriously and engage so passionately in the democratic process.

All my best,

 

]]> http://lorenius.com/2012/01/my-senator-at-work-pipasopa/feed/ 0 the great schlep http://lorenius.com/2008/10/the-great-schlep/ http://lorenius.com/2008/10/the-great-schlep/#comments Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:11:01 +0000 lorene http://lorenextreme.com/index.php/2008/the-great-schlep paid for by the jewish council for education and research?

The Great Schlep from The Great Schlep on Vimeo.

]]> http://lorenius.com/2008/10/the-great-schlep/feed/ 0 Quote of the Day http://lorenius.com/2008/05/quote-of-the-day/ http://lorenius.com/2008/05/quote-of-the-day/#comments Fri, 02 May 2008 13:56:08 +0000 lorene http://lorenextreme.com/index.php/2008/quote-of-the-day Heard on NPR The Take Away this morning. I believe this was someone in Indiana speaking about Hillary’s plan for a gas tax vacation.

“That’s more shades of wrong than a new bruise”

]]> http://lorenius.com/2008/05/quote-of-the-day/feed/ 0 Bitch is the New Black http://lorenius.com/2008/02/bitch-is-the-new-black/ http://lorenius.com/2008/02/bitch-is-the-new-black/#comments Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:56:53 +0000 lorene http://lorenextreme.com/index.php/2008/bitch-is-the-new-black Thanks to Natalie for telling me about this. Tina Fey was back on SNL Weekend Update…the part I’m talking about is about a minute into this clip.

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