[citation][nom]livebriand[/nom]Wasn't this government founded because we didn't like another oppressing power (England)? And now, the corporations ARE the oppressing power? wtf? I wouldn't be at all surprised if the corporations try to sneak this in when no one's looking, perhaps as a part of another bill. The internet is fine as it is. Piracy is just a cost of business, and they need to learn to live with it. The world doesn't revolve around big corporations' interests.[/citation]
The corporations are not the oppressing power. If the corporations make any move to harm the well being of third parties or consumers in ways the government does not protect, they face liability in court.
The government is the thing we must always carefully examine for oppression. "Corporations" or the "Wealthy" do not have more power, only more resources than the "unwealthy" or "common man" to operate with. If they operate outside of the law imposed by the government, they risk the repercussions of those negatively affected; which is how we, the "common man" are protected. Briefly put, "Corporation" can only oppress as much as the government gives it license to; oppression without protection can be very costly to a Company.
This system operates quite well as long as the laws are enforceable and just, neither are accomplished by SOPA/PIPA. If lobbying did play a big part in the conception of this bill, that is no excuse for the majority's inability to elect good leaders. We need to focus on the government and her role, the Corporations will fold to whatever our will is, as the ESA just demonstrated today.