With the Democrats in firm control of both the Senate and the House of Reps, can we act quickly to save the Internet in it's most open and free form in a way that will last forever?
Let's review briefly; there was a concerted effort to stymie political free speech which was thankfully stopped, the two most recent Attorney Generals sometimes feel online pornography is their biggest concern, and Bill Frist snuck anti-online gambling provisions into a Port Security bill. These are not the actions of people who enjoy the freedom of information, ideas and expression that we get with the Internet.
And with all of the various negative aspects of modern Republicanism, let's take a look at the authoritarianism wing. These people know they were just dealt a huge blow, they just lost both houses of Congress for cryin out loud, do you think they see a rising threat from people like us who use the Internet as our primary activist tool? The netroots have played a successively larger role in each of the last three elections. People are going to try harder than ever to destroy the Internet as we know it. It's not as if they get a damn bit of help from the 'conservative' blogosphere.
Let's take this opportunity to get something through Congress that will keep the Internet free forever. And instead of groups of people focusing on one aspect here and another there, let's lump it all together. Protect the whole damn thing. If something is legal and free offline, then keep it legal online. If something is restricted offline, then restrict it online.
Let's be sure we can take for granted:
Freedom of speech, religion, assembly.
Freedom from unwarranted invasion of privacy.
These are the things we, as members of the freedom-loving party of the USA, should want.
What does everyone think? How should we expand on this idea, if at all? And what's the best way to go about getting something like this accomplished?
Comments appreciated.