Re: [dvd-discuss] Ignore the SSSCA.

[John Galt <galt(at)inconnu.isu.edu>]

I'm going to chime in here with another reason to ignore the SSSCA:
nobody's mentioned that it doesn't even have a bill number yet.  IT ISN'T
EVEN UP FOR A VOTE YET.  There's a real point to ignoring something that
doesn't yet exist. Wait 'till it's at least got a bill number before
giving your congresscritters the what for on a given bill...

On Mon, 10 Sep 2001, Jeme A Brelin wrote:

>
>[I am probably repeating myself here, but I want to make this quite clear,
>so bear with me.  Reply, of course, if you feel you must.]
>
>Seriously.
>
>We all know about the evils of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.  But at
>the time, we were too busy trying to take down the most egregious portion
>of that act; the so-called Communications Decency Act.  I personally
>believe that they CDA was appended to the Telecom act as a diversionary
>tactic to make communications policy activists fight the "winnable" battle
>that the media industry didn't care to win.  Then we could pat ourselves
>on our backs and everyone would feel like we'd been thrown our bone and
>the real crime could take place right under our noses.
>
>Activists are so downtrodden from loss after political loss that any
>victory feels like cause for celebration and rest.  Oftentimes these
>"victories" are mere compromises that still do harm, but "less
>harm".  It's a net loss, but it FEELS like a victory.
>
>There is a strong anti-DMCA momentum right now.  This kind of momentum is
>rarely seen outside of hardcore activist circles.  The industries is
>scared to death of these new democratic movements (see Seattle, Quebec
>City, Genoa... DC next month).  But the population is largely
>depoliticized and can only be galvanized into action for maybe one issue
>at a time and only for a short period.  We have the momentum right now to
>bring down the DMCA in public opinion.  If we shift gears now, we'll lose
>that momentum... or worse.
>
>If we strike down the SSSCA before it is passed, it will be a false and
>hollow victory because the DMCA will still stand and the media will
>present it as a victory and the people will feel that we have been
>placated.  Some of us may actually feel placated ourselves.  Mostly, we'll
>have exhausted our resources, called in our favors, and maybe put
>ourselves in debt (debt of favor or money or time or whatever).
>
>Understand that defeating the DMCA is a win in the battle against the
>SSSCA.  If we get this law overturned, that will send the message to
>Congress and the Courts that the people will not abide such a law.  Our
>anti-DMCA arguments work quite well as anti-SSSCA arguments and making
>those arguments public wins both ends.
>
>I truly believe that the SSSCA is a tactic to divert our energies and make
>us feel like the DMCA is a compromise.  It's a "See?  Could be worse!"
>measure.
>
>Don't fall for the bait.
>
>Fight the DMCA.
>
>Free Dmitry and the rest will follow.
>
>J.
>

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Who is John Galt?  galt@inconnu.isu.edu. that's who!