Read about SOPA – it will build censorship into the core of the US internet. Write your congresperson.

I did, and Kirsten Gillibrand’s mailerbot responded:

Dear Michael,

Thank you for writing to me regarding S. 968, the PROTECT IP Act of 2011.  I understand your concerns.

I am a cosponsor of this legislation because I believe that we must protect American intellectual property against foreign websites that infringe upon our rights.  By empowering the Attorney General of the United States to go after foreign infringing websites, this legislation becomes a necessary tool to ensure that U.S. companies remain competitive in the world marketplace.  I recognize that there are technical concerns with the enforcement of this bill that need to be addressed.  I am committed to working with my colleagues in the United States Senate to ensure that this legislation protects the Constitutional rights of Americans and does not stifle lawful free speech or innovation on the internet.

My response to her:

I don’t think that this will really reach any decision makers, but please understand that the concerns are not technical. Censorship in any form is unacceptable, but the attempts of the US government to censor the internet are beyond appalling and on the wrong side of history. Granting broad and unregulated powers of censorship on the basis of a dubious intellectual property argument is terrible because it opens the floodgates for censorship of all sorts. You will not win out in your quest to control information.

I will vote for anyone who opposes you and actively encourage others, over facebook and twitter if they have not yet been censored, to do the same.

I think that perhaps this email came across as emotional…I assure you that I am a calm, levelheaded person with strong opinions on the subject, and you will find that many others in your consituency feel the same.

Best,
Michael Morgenstern

And I meant it. This is really, really bad and the fact that it might pass very scary. Do something, and for the love of god don’t vote Gillibrand back in if she supports this.