Big internet websites going dark to protest SOPA. Thoughts?

The method is flawed and provides far too much power to people/agencies known for abusing power.

Trent, I respect your opinion. The way I look at it is if they can pay a 'star' several million to make a movie, sing a song, or punch another guy out, why can they invest in their IP protection? Why involve Uncle Sam in what is a free market element; the providing of goods and services?
Instead of trapping a kid for theft of unprotected data, build a better trap - invest in your data like you invest in your stars.
But no - we'll lock folks up for taking unprotected date - data that's already Federally protected mind you.
Meanwhile, while we clamp down on our own citizens, we'll continue to provide most favored trade status to nations rife with pirates hacking the heck out of this information.

I don't care if a company makes millions, billions, or trillions, there is no excuse for people stealing from them, and it is not their job to police morality, stealing on a broad scale is the governments business. If I leave my wallet out unprotected it may be stupid of me, but there are still laws and enforcement of those laws that provides punishment to the person stealing it. Not to mention it is morally wrong to steal, every bit of our DNA says so.
What this law is really proposing is no different than if a trucking company was smuggling stolen goods, and the gov shutting down the trucking company to prevent the stolen goods from being sold. I doubt you would argue that is the wrong thing to do, given the trucking company knows what it’s hauling. Peddling stolen goods is wrong and bad for business in general. Even if this imaginary trucking company was just hauling fake Chinese Guess purses, you would agree stealing Guess’s IP is wrong, and the trucking company knowingly pedaling such stuff should be shut down to prevent the sale correct?
Sure Guess should (and I’m sure does) try to prevent this stuff, but it happens, and when it does it’s bad for everyone, not just Guess, this is why it’s the governments job to get involved and defend business IP.
I have spent great time working with people in other countries without good IP laws, and nothing will kill the spirit of business like having your ideas or material stolen. Again real protection of IP is what makes America great.

Trent, again I respect your opinion. Yes, if you leave your wallet out unprotected and it get's taken, we agree.....'oh well'. Same for companies that place media on the net without protection - 'oh well'. If I went into a recording studio and stole their goods, bypassing their lock, I'd be in trouble. If that same studio tossed their songs out the window to the street without protection and then stood there with the government behind them and said 'none shall pass', that's just crazy. If you put stuff out on the street, it's goint to get taken, so protect it if you don't want it taken or don't put it out on the street - build a better lock - innovation is a two way street. Don't ask the tax payers to protect it and don't reward other countries with trade status that break these locks.