Grassroots
Congress is trying to step on the first amendment rights of free speech by making blogging a “lobbyist endeavor” if you have more than 500 readers. I doubt that I’ll ever reach that number, but there are quite a few people out there that have that many (or more!) readers. With the new law that is proposed, anyone making political comments to 500 or more readers must register with Congress, and make quarterly reports to them.
This includes me. I’ve posted about politics here, here, and here. If, at any time in the future, I reach 500 or more readers, I suddenly become a “grassroots” political effort, and I have to register. This means that I need to remain wildly unpopular, stop commenting about politics, or become a lobbyist.
This stomps all over the first amendment, and should not be allowed. If you blog, think about politics, or just don’t think this is right, contact your senators and representatives now! We just can’t let this happen. It’s like getting permission from a school teacher to speak. We’re not in elementary school anymore! (and yes, I did contact my Senators regarding this proposed legislation.)
