Congressional Elections - Who's Good for IT Folks?

rlp asks: "Most of the articles appearing in Slashdot's new political section pertain to the U.S. Presidential election. However, most of the political issues facing American IT people are issues that are dealt with (or more often caused by) Congress. Therefore, my question is: who are the heroes and villains (for U.S. IT people) in Congress that are running for office this year? How does your local Congresscritter (or the person running against them) feel about copyrights, privacy, data security, H1-B, outsourcing, software patents, Open Source, tech education, R&D funding, anti-trust, etc?"

Comments

There isn't a pro or anti IT party

[DesScorp]

Doesn't really matter, because IT has become such a neccessity, and such a commodity, that it's silly to say "who should I vote for? who will support IT the most?". It's a non-issue. It's like saying "gee, which party will support accountants more?" or "which party supports telephone use?". It just isn't one of those economic sectors thats on one side of the spectrum politically, like trial lawyers.

Re:There isn't a pro or anti IT party

[orthogonal]

Doesn't really matter, because IT has become such a neccessity [sic], and such a commodity, that it's silly to say "who should I vote for? who will support IT the most?". It's a non-issue. It's like saying "gee, which party will support accountants more?" or "which party supports telephone use?". It just isn't one of those economic sectors that[']s on one side of the spectrum politically, like trial lawyers.

Oh, so much I am agreeing with you sir!

Very truly, do not be bothering yourself about your politicians' votes, sir!

IT is being a necessity, yes, indeed, as necessary as a bowl of curry when you are hungry!

Please to keep ignoring it and calling it to be a non-issue, sir, and I will be being happy to do your job for ten percent of your pay!

So much I thank you for ensuring my economic future by throwing away your heritage as a citizen of a democracy!

Soon you will not have to worry about the IT sector at all sir! And I would be glad to teach the rudiments of selling apples on the street for five cents each, or begging for alms in the hot Calcutta slums!

--Yours most sincerely,
Apu Babu Singh Mahadressi
Mumbai, India

Re:There isn't a pro or anti IT party

[Otter]

It's not news that the "outsourcing" issue draws heavily on thinly-veiled racial scapegoating. But I'm not sure who is making less of an attempt to conceal it: you or this idiot.

Re:There isn't a pro or anti IT party

[orthogonal]

It's not news that the "outsourcing" issue draws heavily on thinly-veiled racial scapegoating. But I'm not sure who is making less of an attempt to conceal it: you or this idiot.

I think you missed my point, friend.

I'm not scapegoating the Indian worker: he's making a rational decision to take a better job so he can better feed his family, and you or I would do the same in his place.

My point was to demonstrate that -- whether the issue is outsourcing of the IT sector, or John Ashcroft's cavalier (roundhead?) attitude toward civil liberties, or the DMCA, or anything else -- those who blithely ignore politics quickly sooner or later find themselves at the mercy of those who do pay attention.

Many of us in the "tech sector" pretend to disdain politics -- it's a luxury when can just barely afford to get away with as the "American Century" draws to a close.

But one way or another, the butcher's bill comes due, either at Omaha Beach or at Tarawa or Concord or Lexington, or to mix metaphors, in a bread line.

Rick Boucher

[waldoj]

There is no bigger geek rockstar in the House than my representative, Rep. Rick Boucher (VA-09). The guy advocates the protection of Fair Use, a Digital Milennium Consumers' Rights Act, opposes the DOJ's anti-P2P work, proposed a great anti-spam act in 2003 (it didn't pass; that crappy CAN-SPAM did, instead), he sponsored the Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act, and he testifies before various House committees all the time, representing, effectively, Slashdot. :) See the Internet section of his House site for more information. Alternately, you could see any of the Slashdot stories about him from over the years, including Slashdot | Rep. Boucher Outlines 'Fair Use' Fight, Boucher's Anti-DMCA Bill Gets High Profile Allies, Anti Spamming Act 2001 Proposed, and Webcasting and the DMCA.

Hell, Boucher guest blogged for Larry Lessig a few weeks ago, and the stuff that he wrote about is like a Slashdotter's wet dream. :)

He doesn't talk about these things in his campaign literature -- much of the very-rural, poor population of southwest Virginia just wouldn't care. Read over his campaign website and you'll find more about the tobacco buyout, healthcare and tourism than technology. :)

And everybody else in the House sucks. ;)

-Waldo Jaquith

Russ Feingold for WI

[Joe Tennies]

Let's just say he's the only guy in Congress to vote AGAINST the Patriot Act. From his website (russfeingold.org): Senator Feingold supported 90% of the provisions of the PATRIOT Act, but too many provisions were deeply troubling. Certain provisions may infringe on the rights of law-abiding citizens, while doing little protect our country against terrorists. If he ever runs for President, he's got my vote.

Re: Troll Feeding

[Karma Farmer]

You want a job? Vote Republican. I know that's hard for liberal slashdot to swallow, but it's the truth.

No, it isn't.

In fact, we're better with neither .

Past performance is no guarantee of future results

[ubiquitin]

But it might help get an idea of where people stand:

www.vote-smart.org lets you look up the voting records of Concresscritters.

Re:Answer: Anyone Who Supports Free Markets

[foistboinder]

president: Bill O'Reilly

This Bill O'Reilly? Why would anyone want to vote for a clown with such skewed view of reality?

Re:They haven't a clue...

[saden1]

Just visit Issue s 2000 (2004)</a> and checkout how candidates voted on technology issues.

Find out who's padding their pockets...

[Kevin Burtch]

http://www.opensecrets.org/ is a great place to find out what organizations and industries are giving the most $$ to each candidate.

There's a lot more content than that there, check it out.