Haven't we had enough of these articles already? They're not about startups or technology, really, and I think we've all formed our opinions at this point. Posting them here won't change a thing, in any case.
I strongly disagree, David. Keeping this issue in front of smart people (many of whom travel extensively) is probably one of the best ways to initiate change.
In the US, politicians and the judiciary change laws. Those people do not read HN, and don't give a shit if a bunch of nerds who represent approximately .00001% of the electorate get their britches in a bunch over something or other. Posting political things here makes people feel good, but doesn't do one damn thing in the real world. To do that, you need to get out and engage with the political system. Clicking little arrows is, to put it bluntly, just wanking around.
And in any case, do you really want to go down the road where this site is utilized for the cause du jour? Want to see taser articles here?
Again, I have to disagree with you on this. HN is where I found at about this issue to begin with, and I have already: 1. donated to EPIC's http://www.stopdigitalstripsearches.org/ , 2. begun changing travel plans, 3. informed a number of friends and colleagues (non-HN users) who have in turned passed it on to others. Clearly, there are "real world" effects.
There are "real world effects" of pissing into the wind, too, but they don't really affect the wind much.
This thing even has serious health issues associated with it. You know Doctors stand behind lead shielding when they give X-rays, right? And I bet most doctors give less than 40 X-rays a day, but this thing has at least 40 times the radiation of an X-ray. Is dying of cancer convenient enough for you?