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Net Neutrality: Lobbyist McCurry Raises Ire
BBCWatcher writes "Mike McCurry, former Clinton Administration Press Secretary turned telecommunications industry lobbyist, reacts to his many new critics in the battle over Net Neutrality: "There are millions and millions of good Democrats who get paid by corporations," he said, "and I think every time we bash corporations, we just turn off people who are in the middle of the political spectrum." Among others, top political blogger Markos Moulitsas Zúniga responded swiftly to McCurry's latest assertions: "What a dishonest piece of sh[..] McCurry has become. This is an anti-corporatist jihad, is it? Is that why we are aligned with Microsoft, Google, and eBay? And when did the Christian Coalition and the Gun Owners of America join the 'left'? What a pathetic attempt to marginalize those of us working for net neutrality....McCurry is now a sad, sad, pathetic man.""
Plenty of democrats are paid by corporations. But the unions continue to contribute a heck of a lot, as well as other groups who aren't great fans of corporate power. There's no reason for democrats to shy away from criticising corporations just because corporations fund some Dems, and some middle-of-the-roaders aren't opposed to corporation-bashing. OTOH, the reflexive bash-the-corporation responses that some Dems exhibit (and Republicans too - espc over oil prices, where "price gouging" - aka charging what the market will bear - gets screamed each time the gas price rises due to exogenous factors) do not make them seem very credible. It's hard to trust people who have routine scapegoats; it suggests they don't think enough.
Exercise your right not to vote. thinkoutside.org
Most political issues are not a Left vs Right issue. Unfortunately many people find that the comfort of a simple left/right alignment releases them from the responsibility of actual critical thought. The argument get boiled down to a fight between the "loony-left" and the "self-righteous right" -- and I am sure the politicians would like to keep it that way. As long as the public keeps using this oversimplification (and often gross misrepresentation) of political theory, they policies will never be subject to much real thought. Both sides will just spew insults and half-truths to support or tear-down the position. In general, the moment people start claiming the leftness or rightness of a political theory I simply tune out, because obviously this person isn't interested in a conversation. The idea has already been pigeon-holed and the merit of the idea has been decided by the political group pitched it. So go back to your political demi-gods, get your brain back, and stop judging in Red vs. Blue, or left vs. right, and THINK!