Questions for Town Meeting with Congressman?

tongue asks: "I have the opportunity tomorrow to go to a town meeting with my Congressman, Gene Taylor (D, Miss.). I'd like to be able to ask several (preferably intelligent) questions regarding issues facing the technology industry today, on bills like the DMCA, SSSCA, etc; but I'm having trouble narrowing down the field. The research I've been able to do so far indicates a fairly conservative voting record, although I haven't had much luck finding a good site that summarizes a bill-by-bill voting record along with a synopsis of the bill." We did a similar question, last month about the CBDTPA which dovetails nicely with this issue. What questions about these and other questionable electronic laws passed over the last few years, would you like tongue to ask Senator Taylor?

Comments

Bad news

[Pomme de Terre!]

If you think these townhall meetings are forums to pursuade or convince your Congressman of *anything*, you will be pretty disappointed.

These things are primarily designed to get a nice story in the local paper, and maybe help a few people with "The road near my cousin's house is falling apart" or "I'm getting the runaround from can you help?"

If you are serious about garnering insight or pursuading your congressman of anything beyond the superficial, you need to set up a private meeting with him or one of his staff. (This is not a difficult thing to do, and contrary to the press, you do not need to be a millionaire contributor to do it.)

At the said meeting, you need to have a concise argument ready, provide facts, figures, and documentation. ("I hate Microsoft and think everyone should use BSD" will not cut it.)

Please be knowledgable about your subject. The fact that you're dredging Slashdot for talking points is not a good sign, and will likely do more harm than good when the conversation gets into specifics and fine details. Remember, the idea is to convince, not just spout off your opinion.

Technology issues are a huge body of legislation, and you will more than likely find at least somebody on his staff with experience in such matters, who will be the true path to action. (Staffers are the key to power.)

I can promise you that any townhall grandstanding about any substantive issue will result in a noncommittal "That's really good point, and there are a lot of people who agree with you. Let me look into it."

Pomme de Terre

Re:What about our rights?

[darkonc]

First of all, what would be wanted is not to back up the DVD. 'Backing up' a dvd is seen by many as euphamism for 'pirating'. Don't shoot your self in the foot by using that phrase.

The DMCA makes it illegal for you tor RECOVER a damaged DVD using any but the most primative methods. That's more of a catcher than 'backing up' a DVD. Few people would see fit to 'back up' a perfectly good DVD, but many people might get raised hackles at the prospect of being legally prevented from recovering a damaged one.

I would also suggest a more direct question. The question that I would ask would be more along the lines of:

The DMCA has severely limited consumer rights, and the Hollings bill (CBPTBPA, or whatever) threatens to almost completely gut consumer rights.
Do you intend to vote for, or against Hollings' bill -- and what would your justification be for that vote?