Although not a state issue I was glad to see so many people take notice of the SOPA/PIPA legislation in congress.
Whether you support or oppose SOPA/PIPA, this was a good example of the power of constituents to demand that leaders listen.
Read the aftermath story here.
I think the real lesson is that if we were more engaged in the day-to-day of congressional operations, then more attention would be given to the needs of the people and not the needs of political calculations.
I can appreciate that people may not be able to tolerate watching congressional news anymore... generally it is not inspiring us to run to our polling place anxious to vote. So we should applaud both sides for staying active and not just letting the moment pass. National debate is good.
My personal take on the issue is that piracy on the high seas of the internet is unfortunate and illegal and more should be done to protect intellectual and creative property. However, if we do not understand the full consequences of enacting legislation to prevent piracy we may want to hold off until experts and citizens weigh in. I find that legislative mistakes are easier to fix proactively rather than reacting to unintended consequences; I fail to see the great danger in patience on this issue.
We do not want to cultivate an internet culture in the United States that restricts the free flow of information or brings about a surge in lawsuits.
To close here are two quotes that I think are relevant to the situation:
"Vox populi, vox dei. The voice of the people is the voice of God."
"The internet is a series of tubes." ~ Senator Ted Stevens
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