STOP ACTA & TPP

Stop ACTA & TPP! - Never use trade agreements to mess with the Internet!

They tried to push internet censorship through Congress and we stopped them with our STOP SOPA/PIPA protests. But the companies behind SOPA & PIPA have a backup plan: secretive trade agreements like ACTA & TPP. If we can't stop these backroom deals, the internet's future belongs to SOPA's backers. DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO SPREAD THE WORD, CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES, YELL FROM THE STREET CORNERS, ALL OF IT! You can start by using the form below to send a message. Get more detail from KILLACTA.org

I urge you to vote no on ACTA and to communicate its severe problems to your colleagues. ACTA's vague language locks us into obsolete copyright and patent laws, preventing democracies from updating their laws to unlock new economic and social opportunities.It criminalizes harmless remixes by ordinary users if they achieve 'a commercial scale' (art 2.14.1) which many amateur videos do on sites like Youtube. And it criminalizes legitimate websites by making them responsible for user behavior ('aiding and abetting' art 2.14.4).Worse, it permanently bypasses the democratic process by empowering the 'ACTA Committee' to 'propose amendments to [ACTA]' without your approval. (art 6.4) In other words, it's impossible to know what you're voting for.The global movement against the US law SOPA showed that internet freedom is a crucial issue which belongs in the legislative process of each country. You should view ACTA as an attempt by a handful of companies to circumvent the democratic process, and you should vote against it.Thank you. Please reply if you have any questions.

Thoma Time

Thoma Time with Bishop

October 13, 2008

Does it matter if you vote or not? There is a popular conception that if you do not vote, you cannot bitch. What do you think about this.

Acorn is under the microscope for fraudulent voter registration which raises the question, what good are voter drives? You see them all over; at concerts, universities, door-to-door, and more. Should ignorant people vote?

The Constitutional Convention will be voted on across all of Illinois, and in the case it passes, and there is a convention held in Springfield, what would you like to be brought up? Just a couple of suggestions from me; recall and utilizing the electoral college for what it is meant to do. What do you want?

Also, an interesting story about a black conservative talk-show host getting death threats for supporting John McCain. What is wrong with Obama supporters?

This and your phone calls to the public sphere at 217.628.7970 or email bishop@wmay.com

Thoma Time

June 17, 2008

Greg Bishop fills in for Mark Thoma on Thoma Time, streaming worldwide at WMAY dot com from 3p to 6p CST.

Don't forget to go shopping at Super Wal-Mart for supplies to help out the flood victims on Illinois and Iowa. Today until 5p. WMAY will be there taking your donations; toiletries, clothing, bottled water, health care supplies, and more. Do what you can to show the flood victims that Springfield cares! If you can't make it today, WNNS will be there all day tomorrow. All donations will go to Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Chatham who are supporting missions to Illinois and Iowa flood victims.

The Bird Whisperer has passed away, will his secrets be exposed?

The Sangamon County Jail has new charges brought against them by the family of Klutzo the Clown, alleging jailers said Paul Carlock "got what he deserved". What ever happend to innocent until proven guilty and no cruel and unusual punishment? We cannot be OK with the excessive use of Tasers. Read the story on SJ-R's Website.

Government Contracts seem to be a hot meal ticket for many companies operating overseas. But what happens when oversight leads to your dismissal ... for apparently doing your job? Read the New York Times article about Charles Smith and KBR.

Also, Blackwater USA is getting more and more contracts, regardless of the FBI deeming their November 2007 Iraq massacre criminal. How much further will we let Blackwater go? Read Jeremy Scahill's editorial about Blackwater from the LA Times.

Oh yeah, and if we have time, we'll talk about this guy:

The mainstream media would rather talk about Clint Eastwood and Spike Lee fighting than a syndicated talk show host calling for the murder of innocent activists.

This and your calls at 217.629.7970 or emails to bishop@wmay.com