Quote:
Originally Posted by pilotbob
It would be nice if there were similar community review of the bills that congress is considering. I wonder if people would get involved. This would gives us a truly "representative" democracy.
|
The good news is, anyone can write their congresspersons and state their opinions on any bill or subject. Plenty of organizations try to round up concerned constituents and organize them for just this purpose, you have only to look for your concern of choice and go to it. (I'm a member of a few myself.)
The bad news is twofold: One, the public doesn't always find out when a bill or subject is being discussed; and Two, their opinions are usually overruled by corporate influence (i.e., lobbying and outright bribes), or the subject of pork barrel politics and thereby rendered beyond the scope of debate (like burying the outlay of money for a new public golf course into the pork for a federal bridge repair spending bill that is 100% sure to pass).
BTW: If no one else has heard, I understand Jammie Thomas may be given a new trial. Apparently, the judge now feels he was in error when he told the jury that "making a file available for download" automatically constituted wrongdoing, without an actual file being downloaded. However, the RIAA has already stated that they downloaded the music files as proof of her putting them there, making the distinction irrelevant...