On Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:56:30 +0000, Invisible wrote:

> If they were planning to make it legal to lock Americans up without
> trial, *that* would be seriously disturbing.

They already have that.  It was part of the most recent defense 
appropriations bill that was signed into law.

Obama issued a 'signing statement' saying that his administration 
wouldn't use indefinite detention on American citizens, but there's 
nothing to stop the next administration from doing that.

> Censoring the Internet is merely worrying

Maybe for you.  We have this thing here in the US called "free speech" 
which means that the government cannot pass laws that restrict speech 
here.  But SOPA/PIPA and similar laws (DMCA, anyone?) allow content to be 
removed from the Internet (or would allow, in the case of laws not passed 
yet) merely on the word of someone claiming copyright.  The burden of 
proof is on the alleged infringer, not on the alleged copyright holder.

Pardon me for saying this, but that's fucked up.

Because here in the US we *also* have something called "due process", 
which ensures that we have a right to legal representation, a fair trial, 
etc.

Except with these laws, due process is entirely circumvented.

The point of the protest yesterday was to raise awareness and get these 
bills shelved.

And it was successful.

Jim

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