For each of the following, indicate which one you option you like more (or dislike less) by selecting a number on that side of the scale. The closer to -5 or 5 indicates the degree to which you prefer that option.

Poll #867616
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

beer (-5) vs. wine (5)

benevolent monarchy (-5) vs. corrupt democracy (5)

boston red sox (-5) vs. new york yankees (5)

cats (-5) vs. dogs (5)

chocolate (-5) vs. sex (5)

Dick Cheney (-5) vs. Karl Rove (5)

France (-5) vs. Italy (5)

Groucho Marx (-5) vs. Karl Marx (5)

Iran (-5) vs. Syria(5)

Jessica Simpson (-5) vs. Maria Cary (5)

mental pain (-5) vs. physical pain (5)

planned (-5) vs. spontaneity (5)

spring (-5) vs. autumn (5)

summer (-5) vs. winter (5)

United Kingdom (-5) vs. United States (5)

DOPA, or the "Deleting Online Predators Act" is one of the more horrifying and dangerous pieces of legislation in a long time. It would force libraries and schools to block access to "commercial Web sites that let users create web pages or profiles or offer communication with other users via forums, chat rooms, e-mail or instant messenging."

Essentially, DOPA would permit nothing that allows the user to publish or broadcast their views or tell stories. This bill does not target online predators, instead it censors those who are most likely to have negative views of the government. This bill would effectively silence large groups of disadvantaged children and adults whose only access to such online forums are schools and libraries.

The internet, especially blogging sites, threaten to break Marx's observation that "freedom of the press belongs to those who own one". The old monopoly on the press is being widdled away as more and more people are able to tell their stories. Those in power, while not acknowledging Marx's observation, have understood it to be true and have understood that it benefits them.

However, both Marx and the power brokers in Washington share the belief that information should be controlled. The only real difference between them was how this control is best administered. The internet offers a new world where information is controlled by no one. Where all are free to talk and tell our stories. We are still far from that world, but it is within our grasp.

The future is closer than we think, and what we do now will dramatically change what that future will be. We need to expand the press to everyone, not limit it to the few.