Thanks for the warning, Tom Paine

Ever since I first logged online in May 1998, I've seen signs of corporations attempting to work with the U.S. Federal government to undermine the way we use the Internet. I've accessed email groups, websites and other forums where people dedicated to the Internet remaining a free frontier for content and accessability have sounded off about threats to this freedom, as well as, to our civil liberties. I've seen indications of a buildup to a knock-down, drag-out battle between The People of the world defending themselves from corporate and government attacks on the quality of our Internet and World Wide Web experience.

A recent article at tompain.com titled Stealing the Internet exposes current corporate efforts to corrupt the quality of Internet access and content. The plans in motion also include the possibility of charging additional useage fees to broadband users and to force mainstream media (including news) sources and advertisements on users (especially those on fixed incomes). The latest threatening corporate scam would (if the schemers get their way) also force users to pay additional fees to access alternative news and other media.

There are members of Congress that don't seem too concerned about the attacks on our personal liberties should they give into the whims of corporate minorities lobbying our government. This is not merely a concern restrictive to U.S. citizens, because citizens of other countries are also likely to be adversely affected by what is happening. It is vital that we learn as much as possible about what is happening, exactly which individuals, companies and lobby firms are involved, which lawmakers are willing to sell their votes on these lobbyist's behalf and how these people are doing what they do. To know where their strengths and weaknesses exist is to know how to undermine their strengths while playing on their weaknesses as a means of breaking down their efforts to corrupt the Internet as they intend to do.

I ask that you stop to ponder how these corporations have acquired their wealth and how they maintain it. I suggest that we all consider how the Carlyle Investment Group may very well be playing its hand in this, as this group has been reported to be taking an interest in investing in media companies. Now, I strongly urge all netizens to pull together and develop a powerful counter force to these elite pigs. By forming our own investment groups and by strongly supporting alternative media and Internet services that share our concerns, we stand an excellent chance of defeating corporate enemies by empowering ourselves and what we cherish.

I realize, there are many ultra-leftist groups and individuals that shun the idea of using money and free interprise, even investing, as tools, but let's stop being naive. We need to be creative, daring and well-organized to protect the resources we've been tapping into and (in some cases) cooperating with to access and provide important media information to counter the fluff that's been forced on our society for years. This is not a matter to take lightly.

We can collectively work in small - large groups to bolster alternative media great enough to rival the mainstream. When I mention the word "media" I refer to the broad range, not limited to news and information, but to the Internet, the music industry, the television, radio and movie industries. That includes video, DVD and other digital options and also theaters.

As a result of the blacklisting efforts that have been made against performance artists that spoke out against the war in Iraq and against the Bush Cartel, I see no reason why these artists and the silent dissenters of their circles would not join our efforts. I am aware that some have made positive moves to establish alternative media (a cable tv channel and radio stations, or programs) to counter the attacks led by pro-corporate neocons and their corporate allies. A few may be off to a good start, but this is not enough.

There comes a time when we'll have no choice but to either put up the biggest fight for our rights that we've ever fought, or to simply shut up, roll over and take the neocon iron rods up the tail pipe. We cannot risk being lazy and sloppy about this. We cannot risk being divided by differences or by personal interests. We cannot cop out by refusing to participate under the assumption that someone else be our proxy while we go on living our lives uninvolved in these matters, then expect the results to magically appear in our favor. Realistically speaking, that's how we tend to lose our rights and privileges.