I normally don't post about politics as any of my readers would know. I try to be about building the community; promoting people, commerce and business.

Which is why I am going to break my normal silence and post this, because it relates to the pagan community in so many ways.

"Revised guidelines on endorsements and testimonials by the Federal Trade Commission, now under review and expected to be adopted, would hold companies liable for untruthful statements made by bloggers and users of social networking sites who receive samples of their products. The guidelines would also hold bloggers liable for the statements they make about products. If a blogger received a free sample of skin lotion and then incorrectly claimed the product cured eczema, the FTC could sue the company for making false or unsubstantiated statements. The blogger could be sued for making false representations."

"The main target of the new guidelines appears to be the widespread practice of viral marketing in which companies recruit non- employees to talk up products in exchange for samples or promotions.

Companies regularly offer free samples and concert tickets to bloggers and journalists, in the hope of generating press. However, determining which bloggers are acting as an agent of a company may prove difficult."

If I am reading the article correctly, and it's information is accurate, the government will be hiring hundreds of people to watch what products get promoted. They will want to know what products pay or compensate in exchange for being talked about on a blog, MySpace, Twitter or Facebook. How does this all relate to the pagan community?

I imagine, like always, some brands will be ignored. What I really see them doing is using this to crack down on herbal and holistic treatments that might compete against big pharmaceutical products. So many of us in the pagan community use and endorse herbal treatments, health food options, solutions to household and health products that are outside the box.

So how will the government verify you have not been compensated? Why they will be asking you I have no doubt. Be it from a mailed letter or an actual agent visiting I have no idea. And if you have received free items, coupons or money for your talking about a product? No doubt it will be considered income, and you might expect IRS involvement as well.

Combined with bills in Congress right now that will give the President more power to monitor, control and even shut down private web sites and ISPs, bills that use language that seems to imply to me that you might be required to acquire a identification number so your internet use can be tracked, it all makes me very uncomfortable.

What bill is that you might ask?

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Bill-Grants-President-Unprecedented-Cyber-Security-Powers-504520/

A quote from the article:

"In another section of the bill, though, the president is required to report to Congress on the feasibility of an identity management and authentication program "with appropriate civil liberties and privacy protections."

Identity management and authentication program. Imagine if you will that to use the information highway you must prove who you are, and receive a license just like you must now yo to use an asphalt highway. It's not a violation of civil liberties because you would not be required to apply, only if you wanted the privilege of using the internet.

For the record I have never been compensated for any of the businesses I have promoted. But I am concerned about those businesses nonetheless, and concerned for us all.