This diary falls under the "better democrats" label.
Linda Sanchez (D CA39) has introduced the Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act (HR 1966). This law, as written, completely ignores both the letter and the spirit of the Constitution of the United States, specifically the first amendment, which states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Why? "For the Children," of course. When Republicans want to play the fear card, they trade on fear for ourselves. When Democrats play it, they trade on fear for our children. It is ugly and pathetic no matter who is doing it. Take a look under the fold for the text of the bill and some contact info. Click the link above if you want to read the bill on the LOC website.
`Sec. 881. Cyberbullying
`(a) Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication, with the intent to coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person, using electronic means to support severe, repeated, and hostile behavior, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
`(b) As used in this section--
`(1) the term `communication' means the electronic transmission, between or among points specified by the user, of information of the user's choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received; and
`(2) the term `electronic means' means any equipment dependent on electrical power to access an information service, including email, instant messaging, blogs, websites, telephones, and text messages.'.
Guess how many Daily Kos users would be serving jail time if this was the law of the land? I surely would, I've said some mean things about Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid on here before. Saying mean things is part of how this whole messy social contract thing works. You can't have a functioning marketplace of ideas when everyone has to play kissy face, hold hands, and reach into the lap of the person next to them.
Imagine if every time the Republicans hit the feinting couch, a left leaning blogger went to jail?
This kind of idiotic nonsense, if left unchecked, is going to cost us elections. Sanchez and the members of her crew from the party need to be slapped down hard and fast, we can not tolerate open advocacy of feel good censorship, especially not on something this moronic.
There are already laws covering harassment and civil recourse for people who are victims of this kind of thing. The right answer, when confronted with a situation like this, is not to resort to collective punishment and the institution of sweeping new powers that would, in effect, allow the party in control of the White House to put anyone who posted anything online in federal prison for two years.
Contact Congresswoman Sanchez and tell her how shameful and poorly thought out this boondoggle is, and that she should withdraw it, though you might want to send it via snail mail. I'd hate to see my fellow Kossaks end up in prison.