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Net Neutrality, Schlocky Salesmen vs Monopolist Plumbers

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the end-user-stuck-in-the-middle dept.

Andy Kessler has written a short tongue-in-cheek summary of the net neutrality debate over on the Weekly Standard. Kessler identifies the two sides as the 'schlocky ad salesmen' (Google, Yahoo!, etc) and the 'monopolist plumbers' (Verizon, AT&T, etc) and when you add the politicians to the mix it creates a pretty untenable situation. From the article: "But the answer is not regulations imposing net neutrality. You can already smell the mandates and the loopholes once Congress gets involved. Think special, high-speed priority for campaign commercials or educational videos about global warming. Or roadblocks--like requiring emergency 911 service--to try to kill off free Internet telephone services such as Skype. And who knows what else? Network neutrality won't be the laissez-faire sandbox its supporters think, but more like used kitty litter. We all know that regulations beget more lobbyists. I'd rather let the market sort these things out."

5 of 385 comments (clear)

  1. like you I was confused about net neutrality... by pyrrho · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... until I asked a ninja.

    Now all is clear.

    It's like asking the Hot Dog On A Stick Girl To Pay AT&T to let you watch her make lemonade, which is just wrong.

    It's also true that they are trying to tell you watching Robin William's cousin squeeze bacon juice is "the same thing"...

    ask a ninja about net neutrality

    --

    -pyrrho

  2. I'd rather let the market sort these things out. by Stalyn · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...sort of sounds like "I'll let those chickens handle that fox problem".

    --
    The best education consists in immunizing people against systematic attempts at education. - Paul Feyerabend
  3. Re:I think... by Red+Flayer · · Score: 3, Funny
    The more I look at the issue, the more I'm concerned that this could open the floodgate of a free-for-all where you don't have a voice unless you've got a bunch of money to be able to pay for it.
    You have a problem with Capitalism? And Libertarianism? Why do you hate America?
    --
    "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
  4. Re:I think... by Kadin2048 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Google: Uh, I don't think so. I think we'll just make google.com inaccessible altogether to your pipes, and buy a few ads supporting your competitors who provide full service at normal prices. Take a minute to think about how your customers might react to that before you try to throw your weight around against us.

    Telco: We don't have any competitors.

    Google: Oh.

    Telco: Pay up, bitches.

    --
    "Ladies and gentlemen, my killbot features Lotus Notes and a machine gun. It is the finest available."
  5. Re:Doesn't Really Matter... by __aapopf3474 · · Score: 2, Funny
    I thought this was about Shockley http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shockley salesman selling transistors.

    Need to my vision tested.