Don’t get mad. Get even. Here are ten ways to pressure Kentucky to drop its assault on the internet.
Kentucky: “We control the internet”
Upset that Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear thinks he owns the internet? Mad as hell that he thinks he can strong arm a global community for the benefit of his local industries? Then get even. Here are ten ways you can apply pressure to the governor to get him to drop his crusade against domain names.
1. Block and boycott TwinSpires.com. It appears that internet gambling is not illegal in Kentucky. The government just wants a cut of it. TwinSpires is a legally sanctioned horse racing site. If you use it, stop. If you are an IT administrator and haven’t already done so, block the site from your employees.
2. Don’t go to Churchill Downs and don’t watch the Kentucky Derby. This tourist attraction claims nearly 2 million visitors a year.
3. Don’t eat at Taco Bell. Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut are run by Kentucky-based Yum! Brands. However, many of their locations are franchised. Tell your local franchisee that you’re not eating at their restaurant since some of the money trickles back to Kentucky. Ask them to write a letter to Beshear urging him to drop the case.
4. Threaten Humana. Humana is the biggest company in Kentucky and administers health care and human resources services. If your company uses Humana, pressure the company to join the fight against Governor Steve Beshear. It’s reasonable for a large internet company to put enough pressure on the company to act.
5. Buy Indiana. Kentucky’s biggest city, Louisville, borders on Indiana. Make the trip across the state border to Indiana to support its economy rather than Kentucky’s.
6. Email Beshear to voice your concerns.
7. Call Lexington, Kentucky-based Lexmark. Tell the company you are concerned about buying Lexmark printers in the future because it will support Beshear’s state. Since Lexmark manufactures computer peripherals, it should be very concerned about the future of the internet. Call Lexmark’s media relations hotline, (859) 232-2221, to voice your concern. Or e-mail Todd Hastings, corporate media contact at thasting (at) lexmark.com.
8. Email Kentucky Senators to voice your displeasure about the governor’s actions. Jim Bunning, Mitch McConnell.
9. Ask the Electronic Frontier Foundation to get involved.
10. I believe that judge Thomas Wingate is elected. If so, his constituents should let him know how they feel about this case.
Any other suggestions?
Scott Roberts says
Excellent post Andrew. I’ve just routed TwinSpires.com to a nice dark unreachable place for 150+ users, with more to come. I know it’s a drop in the ocean, but if enough people jump on board…
David J Castello says
I have to disagree with almost all of this, Andrew. The only people who are going get hurt with this strategy are the employees of these companies and the economy’s bad enough as it is.
If you reall want to hit a politician where it hurts you go for negative publicity. Beshear has set in motion a very distructive path which I don’t think he fully understands. As more people outside of our industry are made aware of this, they’ll get involved and help to overturn this thing.
Al Winston says
Oh. You mean you’re hurting the people who put McConnell in office to divide and destroy the country. Yeah, I’m down with ruining their lives.
Andrew says
David,
Some of this is tounge-in-cheek, as I don’t expect any of us to put a dent in Lexmark’s printing business. But it’s worth putting pressure on them and introducing the issue…one they probably aren’t even aware of right now.
Tim Davids says
I like all of it…its correct we may not hurt any of those companies but all it takes is 1 person that matters getting wind of it and who knows what may come of it…getting some “water cooler” talks started would be a great thing.
jp says
David, just curious, do you also feel bad for local gas station owners when there is a gas boycott? (even though it seems there is no follow-through on these gas boycots anyway)
Effective negative publicity is expensive for the buyer, boycotting is cheap. Somebody would have to pay for this thing, either the Kentucky residents or domainers. Like you said, times are tough right now, how do you decide who should foot the bill? It’s really neither’s fault.
Andrew says
The ones I think will have the most effect:
1 – 2 – 6 – 8 – 9
jp says
Andrew
You are probably right, and these have the least effect on the residents. I suppose if Plan A doesn’t work there is always Plan B.
Rob Sequin says
Sure, some points are for fun but you have to give Andrew credit for pulling all the information together.
Nic says
“Any other suggestions?”
Drink Scotch!
Shelby Jones says
I am a resident of KY, and it was a great state until crooks and whack jobs like Beshear are voted into office; The politicians that think they know how how to regulate business don’t have any idea how much they hurt it with their ‘actions’
Please don’t boycott KY brands, boycott the KY governor!
Shelby Jones says
Typo on the double how above…
Steve M says
Well…I do still have that video recording of the gov stomping his foot over and over again from inside one of the stalls in the men’s bathroom at the airport…
Think that’ll help? 🙂
Christian says
You don’t have to quit drinking bourbon. Just go with Jack Daniel’s (Tennessee) or Southern Comfort (Louisiana) in lieu of Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, or Maker’s Mark.
Dave says
No more Kentucky products for me due to Moscow Mitch. I just ordered Celestion speakers for my amps. Eminence speakers just lost a sale due to Mitch. Boycott Kentucky!