Do you know why sites like Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook work? For that matter the countless blogs sites that are out there as well? It's due to freedom of speech. These platforms allow us, each and everyone of us, the opportunity to have our voices heard. I mean truly heard, in a way that has limitless amplification opportunity.

I rarely like to weigh in on political matters, you're old enough to form your own opinions and we have enough quacks on the internet. Well, that and the fact that this site is supposed to be about Long Beach community building, not fighting over national politics stuff.

Today though, there is a larger issue at hand in congress, and it potentially effects each and every one of you. Let me explain this with a question. Do you enjoy having your words and speech restricted? If there was a major social issue going on in your very community, what if Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube were pulled from your access or temporarily "Shut-Down".

A piece of legislation is currently working it's way through the House Judiciary Committee effectively authorizing Corporations and Government to do this very thing. This is no "scare tactic", or paranoid over exaggeration of the truth, this is simple straight forward analysis of a poorly written bill.

I'll let the two well made videos below explain the issue best, but I will ask you to join me in taking action on this issue.

Why do I care? If you pay close attention, I mentioned above blog sites. You see a core piece of the bill refers to web sites that allow for the free content postings of it's member/visitors. Those are the types of sites to be targeted here. Sites like this one, or the LBPost, who essentially allows for free comment postings in it's blogs. I do not intend for this to be some form of self importance, but instead as a objective relation to the over reach of this legislation. Yes, the bill is supposed to be about protecting copyright lasw, and I get that, but as pointed out the bill is seriously flawed, and opens the door to serious and legitimate government and corporate censorship.

After the videos I will list the contact information for our representatives in congress. Please call them, they will put you off, take a message, and tell you they are not involved in that committee. They are however involved in the final voting. Our voices can out weigh the voices of their fat cat buddies and lobbyists. It's up to you.

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

Representatives contact info, as listed on The City of Long Beach's Web Site.

United States House of Representative

Laura Richardson
37th District
Capitol Office
1725 Longworth House Office
Washington, DC 20515
Tel: (202) 225-7924
Fax: (202) 225-7926

Chief of Staff:
Shirley Cooks
Field Office
100 West Broadway, West Tower,
Suite 600
Long Beach, CA 90802
Tel: (562) 436-3828
Fax: (562) 437-6434
District Director:
Eric Boyd

Dana Rohrabacher
46th District
Capitol Office
2300 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Tel: (202) 225-2415
Fax: (202) 225-0145
E-mail: dana@mail.house.gov

Chief of Staff:
Rick Dykema
Field Office
101 Main Street, Suite 380
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Tel: (714) 960-6483
Fax: (714) 960-7806
District Director:
Kathleen Hollingsworth

Linda Sanchez
39th District

Capitol Office
1222 Longworth Building
Washington, DC 20515
Tel: (202) 225-6676
Fax: (202) 226-1012

Chief of Staff:
Meghan Johnson
Field Office
17906 Crusader Ave. Suite 100
Cerritos, CA 90703
Tel: (562) 860-5050
Fax: (562) 924-2914
District Director:
Jose Delgado

From http://americancensorship.org/infographic.html: