Broadband Rights & the Killer App of 1900

newscloud writes "Tech writer Glenn Fleishman compares the arguments against affordable, high speed, broadband Internet access in each home to arguments made against providing for common access to electricity in 1900 e.g. '...electric light is not a necessity for every member of the community. It is not the business of any one to see that I use electricity, or gas, or oil in my house, or even that I use any form of artificial light at all.' Says Fleishman, 'Electricity should go to people who had money, not hooked up willy-nilly to everyone ... Like electricity, the notion of whether broadband is an inherent right and necessity of every citizen is up for grabs in the US. Sweden and Finland have already answered the question: It's a birthright.'"

Comments

Just let the government take over everything

[tomhath]

Of course broadband should be owned/operated by the government. And electricity, along with other sources of energy like oil and natural gas. Without question health care should be owned and run by the government. Food production too, we need to nationalize all farms and agribusiness companies immediately. Other natural resources like forests and minerals obviously belong to The People so the government should take them over. And you can't trust things as important as banking, insurance, journalism, or manufacturing to private industry. Did I forget anything? Oh yea, porn, the government also has to provide that according to our needs.

The stench of Randroid droppings...

[Chris Tucker]

...hangs thick and heavy in the air this morning, with more than a hint of teabaggery mixed in.

Someone open a window and break out the air freshener!

Re:Same Arguments, So Simply Discredit Them

[Wodenedow]

If not everyone can profit, it might be socialism!

If not everyone can profit, wouldn't it be capitalism?

Re:That's a very US-centric view

[Shakrai]

The reason I called you a douche is because you have a clearly America-centric view of the planet. And I think that is an arrogant thoughtless view.

No, I have an American-centric view during discussions about American political issues. Or did our health care reform legislation somehow morph into a global issue while I wasn't watching?