Just thinking out loud:

Maybe someone could start a website aimed at this specific issue, then send out notices to everyone they know, musicians or not to respond by siging a petition, contacting everyone they know, etc.. Also, it would help to enlist some "big" names; people who are well-known to most Americans...Pete Seeger comes to mind and/or even non-folk musicians who are super stars. I don't know if anyone on the mudcat has such contacts but it seems to me a BIG NAME would help get the ball rolling along with an online petition. Heck, maybe moveon.org would be interested in bringing it to light. Maybe Barack Obama, Jesse Jackson, Comedy Central..aha! THERE'S a thought! Petition Comedy Central to get on the bandwagon...the folks who love their specials with Steven Wright would LOVE Les Barker! How about Hugh Laurie, now that he is a bigwig over here starring in "House?" Just trying to think outside the box, here. Come on folks, throw out some more ideas? we could use Lady Librety with a blindfold, holding a sign: Give me your tired, your poor, but NOT your musicians, comedians, etc.