My apologies, GfS. I may have done you an injustice. Perhaps you are merely ignorant.

I have already said several times that, although I had high hopes for Barack Obama, I have found him to be disappointing, not—SO FAR—living up to what many people expected of him. He has, however, met extreme, perhaps one could justifiably say, viscious resistance from a Congress that is determined to see him fail. Unfortunately, he is the only candidate on the horizon right now (I said "candidate," not someone you would LIKE to see run who either has not appeared yet or who would not stand a chance even if nominated) who is not either a total idiot or one of the tribe of the Right Wing's selection of Beelzebubs, like, say, Ron Paul or Newt Gingrich. You may disagree, but if so, tough shit. ANYBODY but one of those clowns recently playing patty-cake in South Carolina.

Unless Obama grows a spine or Hillary decides to run, the Democrats don't currently have a breathing, and beyond Bozo's Third Political Party and Lemonade Stand, there isn't anyone much else in the race. As it is, I may emigrate!

As to your insisting on calling me a "liberal," DO try to learn—and remember—the differences (from a book entitled, A Brief Explanation of Modern Political Systems):

The term "progressive" is today often used in place of "liberal." Although the two are related in some ways, they are separate and distinct political ideologies and should not be used interchangeably. In the US in particular, the term progressive tends to have the same value as the European term social democrat; which is scarcely used in American political language.

The reason for this confusion in the US might partly be rooted in the political spectrum being two-dimensional; social liberalism is a tenet of modern progressivism, whereas economic liberalism (and its associated deregulation) is not. According to John Halpin, senior advisor on the staff of the Center for American Progress, "Progressivism is an orientation towards politics. It's not a long-standing ideology like liberalism, but an historically-grounded concept... that accepts the world as dynamic." Progressives see progressivism as an attitude towards the world of politics that is broader than conservatism vs. liberalism, and as an attempt to break free from what they consider to be a false and divisive dichotomy

Cultural Liberalism is ultimately founded on the belief that the major purpose of the government is to protect rights. Liberals are often called "left-wing", in contrast to "right-wing" conservatives. The progressive school, as a unique branch of contemporary political thought, tends to advocate certain center-left or left-wing views that may conflict with mainstream liberal views, despite the fact that modern liberalism and progressivism may still both support many of the same policies (such as the concept of war as a general last resort).

American progressives tend to advocate progressive taxation and oppose the growing influence of corporations. Progressives are in agreement on an international scale with left-liberalism in that they support organized labor and trade unions, they usually wish to introduce a living wage, and they often support the creation of a universal health care system. In the United States, liberals and progressives are often conflated, and in general are the primary voters of the Democratic Party which has a "large tent" policy, combining similar if not congruent ideologies into large voting blocs. Many progressives also support the Green Party or local parties such as the Vermont Progressive Party.

As to the subject of this thread, I have always been strenuously opposed to any SOPA-style restrictions or censorship, and have been since the early 1960s when some of the organizations such as ASCAP and BMI wanted to collect royalties from—not for--guys like me singing in clubs and coffeehouses. They backed off only when we informed them that considering that the vast majority of songs in our repertoires were traditional folk songs and ballads, some of which were hundreds of years old, and they were Public Domain as far as royalties are concerned, I, for example, could simply stop singing the half-dozen recently written songs (Ed Beddoe's Copper Kettle, for example). No sweat!

I'm all in favor of writers, composers, performers, et al receiving due royalties and such for their work. But there is more to it that just that. Something much more sinister. And I, personally, am doing a couple of things to fight it. This current caper, as I see it, is a Trojan horse, to allow the government into the business of regulating and censoring the internet.

It doesn't take an Einstein to figure out that, since movements such as the Coffee Party and the Occupy Movement got their ideas out and around so quickly because of the internet, the possibilities have scared the Holy Crap out of Those Who Would Like To Rule Us, and they want to get their fingers around the throats of such avenues of reform.

No, GfS, I do not favor the things you claim I favor.
Now that you understand my position, I accept your apology.

Don Firth