You Can “Boycott” Kentucky — 10 Ways

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 by now 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. Still, 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 firm in Kentucky and administers health care and human resources services. If your firm uses Humana, pressure the firm to join the fight against Governor Steve Beshear. It’s reasonable for a sizable internet firm to put enough pressure on the firm 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 firm you are concerned regarding buying Lexmark printers in the future since it will support Beshear’s state. Since Lexmark manufactures computer peripherals, it ought to be very concerned regarding 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 regarding 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 ought to let him know how they feel regarding this case.

Any other suggestions?