pearl, I have looked into this all weekend and I have found out a couple things…
I believe the petition should be run through http://www.petitiononline.com/create_petition.html which hosts the petition for you. If we want this to be as big as it needs to be it has to be able to handle hundreds of thousands of signatures on a host that moves quickly.
The petition also needs to have a strong written arguement, and once that arguement/petition is formed it can never be changed. Also, the petition should be hand delivered to Barney Frank or another congressman once it is complete. The petition can run indefinately, but it needs to be promoted by everyone, not just one site so that it reaches millions of players, not just a few.
The following is an arguement of one of our writers as what the basis of the petition should be (I’m personally not sure how this should be formed or worded but I am still researching)…
As an American, I am outraged to learn that Congress has passed legislation that will severely restrict my ability to have certain freedoms in my own home.
Unfair passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act is clearly designed to restrict the freedoms of voters who sent you to office to represent them, and prevent us from making mature decisions about how we spend our leisure time and money.
I am further outraged to learn that the bill was added at a late hour to the Safe Port Security Bill without the ability of debate and only 15 minutes prior to a vote on a must pass bill.
It is improper for Congress to declare itself the overseer of American Morals and to enact legislation that dictates ideology instead of common sense.
The United States, in so enacting this law, has willfully violated World Trade Organization rules and the WTO has ruled against the United States on this issue, in favor of the country of Antigua. Now the European Union is considering similar action as this is seen globally as protectionism.
I urge you to use your considerable power and influence to ensure that this unfair legislation is repealed post haste, and our right to freedom is preserved.
I acknowledge by signing this petition that I agree to a repeal of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act