As Senator Mark Hanna said in 1895 (118 years ago!): "There are two things that are important in politics. The first is money, and I can't remember what the second one is."[1] If you want to understand why Representative Mike Rogers is mocking CISPA opponents as "14 Year Old Tweeters in Their Basement," just ask, who finances his political campaigns?

I hate to be cynical, but calling your Representative may not be enough. Judging by Hanna's 118-year-old quote, it's never been enough. In the long run the solution might be campaign finance reform, but in the short run we may also want organizations like the EFF to raise money so they can finance political campaigns aligned with their values, gaining more influence over the political process.

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[1] http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/405598-there-are-two-things-...