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?"

Don't laugh

[Anonymous Coward]

But Carol Mosley Braun and Sheila Jackson Lee have been great promoters of software freedom as well as the rolling back of property rights.

Dancin Santa

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 [house.gov] 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 [slashdot.org], Boucher's Anti-DMCA Bill Gets High Profile Allies [slashdot.org], Anti Spamming Act 2001 Proposed [slashdot.org], and Webcasting and the DMCA [slashdot.org].

Hell, Boucher guest blogged for Larry Lessig [lessig.org] 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 [boucherforcongress.com] and you'll find more about the tobacco buyout, healthcare and tourism than technology. :)

And everybody else in the House sucks. ;)

-Waldo Jaquith

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 [forbes.com].

In fact, we're better with neither [ucsdguardian.org].

Re:Answer: Anyone Who Supports Free Markets

[foistboinder]

president: Bill O'Reilly

This [amon-hen.com] 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 <a href="http://www.issues2000.org/default.htm">Issue s 2000 (2004)</a> and checkout how candidates voted on technology issues.

Re:They haven't a clue...

[saden1]

damn it...Here is the link. [issues2000.org]

Re:Gerrymandering

[Otter]

Here's the Iowa policy [state.ia.us], which tries to limit perimeter and to encourage existing borders rather than arbitrary ones. I'm sure there are arguments to be made against some of it, but the overall thrust seems very sensible. I used to live in the 33rd District in California [calvoter.org] in that little neck connecting the main, heavily-black part in the west with the Latino region on the east, and know what it's like to have your neighborhood simply not count.

Hello?!?!? McFly???

[Lobo]

Why not vote for Badnarik [badnarik.org] for President?
Sounds like a tech person to me!

Became a Computer Programmer in 1977 for Commonwealth Edison at their nuclear power plant in Zion, Illinois; taught control room operators about computers. Was promoted to Senior Software Engineer for their Braidwood Nuclear Simulator project, which he managed from '82-'85 (his favorite job assignment, basically a $6-million "computer game" for which he was totally responsible). Moved to Montebello, CA, and held a "secret security" clearance at Northrop to work on the Stealth Bomber simulator, '85-'87. Relocated to San Luis Obispo, CA, in 1987 as a System Administrator and computer trainer at PG&E's Diablo Canyon nuclear plant; spent 10 years as a member of the Applied Technology Services Team writing software and traveling the state installing real-time data-collection servers to their remote power stations; was an instructor for hundreds of employees teaching state-of-the-art systems being installed. Moved to Austin, TX, in 1997 where he was a programmer and a trainer for Evolutionary Technologies International. He quickly became the Senior Trainer and began traveling across the U.S., and to Canada, England and Australia, as instructor, consultant and "high-tech diplomat." Became an independent computer consultant in 2001, but began to turn his attention (and talents as an instructor and communicator) to teaching his 8-hour "Introduction to the Constitution" class.

No contradiction

[sbszine]

This makes sense if you think of the Democrats as a centrist [wikipedia.org] party. 'Liberal' more accurately describes a party like the Greens.