We all know our “representatives” are bought and paid for but this fact is rarely shown openly. In a rather odd twist in the recent Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act (PROTECT-IP) drama the Motion Picture Association of American (MPAA) and openly threatened to cut off campaign contributions to “representatives” who don’t support the two erroneous pieces of legislation:
Consumer group Public Knowledge on Friday accused the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and its head, former Sen. Chris Dodd, of trying to intimidate lawmakers into supporting a pair of controversial anti-piracy bills.
In recent days, Dodd and other top Hollywood figures have threatened to cut off campaign donations to politicians who do not support their effort to crackdown on online copyright infringement.
“Those who count on quote ‘Hollywood’ for support need to understand that this industry is watching very carefully who’s going to stand up for them when their job is at stake. Don’t ask me to write a check for you when you think your job is at risk and then don’t pay any attention to me when my job is at stake,” Dodd said on Fox News on Thursday.
Our “representatives” don’t represent us, they represent those who pay them. When lobbyist groups want a piece of legislation passed all they need to do is threaten to cut off the money flow and presto, you have a large based of politicians ready to stand behind the cause. It’s too bad the average citizen can’t afford lobbyists.