The bogey man of regulations sends Republicans into a tizzy. They like to repeat it as a mantra to their constituents, and the poor suckers buy it every time. As PJ O’ Rourke (who is not funny anymore) once astutely observed, Republicans are the party that says government doesn’t work and then they get elected and prove it. Oh, they also like to go on about free markets and competition, even where there isn’t much to show for it except monopoly. Teddy Roosevelt would be as mad as a bull moose.
It’s time to implement net neutrality, which, as you probably already know, will stop the broadband pirates from charging you more for equal access to the Internet. Having failed at coercing the FCC to abandon neutrality, Republicans are now turning to the courts for relief. A bill blunting the FCC’s ability to regulate the net until the courts rule on the matter is making its way through the House. God forbid anyone should benefit from the taxes that they pay. Bastards, the whole lot of them.
I’ve always thought that universal broadband is where we should head next. Everyone should be able to use it, great and small. Even Democrats probably see it as a bridge too far. But they do like the idea of subsidies. I’m good with that.
The future is now. We should act accordingly.