Comments on: Astroturf Groups Try to Enlist Conservatives to Oppose Net Neutrality’s “Government Takeover of the Internet” http://stopthecap.com/2009/08/05/astroturf-groups-try-to-enlist-conservatives-to-oppose-net-neutralitys-government-takeover-of-the-internet/ Promoting Better Broadband, Fighting Data Caps, Usage-Based Billing, & Other Internet Overcharging Schemes Thu, 24 May 2012 11:02:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Lummox JR http://stopthecap.com/2009/08/05/astroturf-groups-try-to-enlist-conservatives-to-oppose-net-neutralitys-government-takeover-of-the-internet/#comment-5673 Lummox JR Mon, 10 Aug 2009 03:18:42 +0000 http://stopthecap.com/?p=4018#comment-5673 I'm a supporter of the tea party movement and I too am of the opinion that ObamaCare is a mistake. But I'm deeply disappointed that an organization pushing for less government intervention in our lives has failed to acknowledge the fact that the current problem of monopolist profiteering by ISPs is already a problem of government interference in the market. What we need is for either true competition in this industry so broadband carriers are afraid to adopt caps lest they lose customers, or we need simple legislation putting a stop to price gouging practices like usage caps that do not in any way reflect the costs the ISP themselves pay to provide their service. In addition, giving net neutrality the power of law is hardly a case of overregulation. It is something long overdue. Companies have somewhat respected it to date only because doing otherwise is difficult to get away with without an uproar, but they'll baby-step their way into total control over our browsing habits and, if possible, our wallets, if they get their way. Opposting net neutrality is a truly un-conservative view, and it's depressing that some conservatives take so narrow a vision as to think otherwise. Stopping abusive practices by ISPs based on their monopoly power alone is something that liberals and conservatives alike should find plenty of room to agree on. Proponents of small government can rally for vastly simplifying telecommunications laws while still supporting simple regulations that are truly necessary to foster competition or (where competition isn't feasible) protect the interest of consumers from an industry that has been insulated from market forces. Proponents of expanded government can easily see the value in such new regulations as would be needed. I think it's possible these groups aren't so much astroturfing, though. They may just be following their principles to the extreme conclusion without weighing the logic of their position in every case. Certainly the conservative instinct is that new laws fix fewer problems than repealing old ones, and that the free market should be preserved, but realistically we're not dealing with a free market anyway and the level of intervention we're looking for is minimal. It may be that on this issue these groups might have some disturbing connections, though, and I think it'd be good for more conservatives to know that and to know the whole story about the monopoly problem. The question of big vs. small government is completely orthogonal to this issue. I’m a supporter of the tea party movement and I too am of the opinion that ObamaCare is a mistake. But I’m deeply disappointed that an organization pushing for less government intervention in our lives has failed to acknowledge the fact that the current problem of monopolist profiteering by ISPs is already a problem of government interference in the market. What we need is for either true competition in this industry so broadband carriers are afraid to adopt caps lest they lose customers, or we need simple legislation putting a stop to price gouging practices like usage caps that do not in any way reflect the costs the ISP themselves pay to provide their service.

In addition, giving net neutrality the power of law is hardly a case of overregulation. It is something long overdue. Companies have somewhat respected it to date only because doing otherwise is difficult to get away with without an uproar, but they’ll baby-step their way into total control over our browsing habits and, if possible, our wallets, if they get their way. Opposting net neutrality is a truly un-conservative view, and it’s depressing that some conservatives take so narrow a vision as to think otherwise.

Stopping abusive practices by ISPs based on their monopoly power alone is something that liberals and conservatives alike should find plenty of room to agree on. Proponents of small government can rally for vastly simplifying telecommunications laws while still supporting simple regulations that are truly necessary to foster competition or (where competition isn’t feasible) protect the interest of consumers from an industry that has been insulated from market forces. Proponents of expanded government can easily see the value in such new regulations as would be needed.

I think it’s possible these groups aren’t so much astroturfing, though. They may just be following their principles to the extreme conclusion without weighing the logic of their position in every case. Certainly the conservative instinct is that new laws fix fewer problems than repealing old ones, and that the free market should be preserved, but realistically we’re not dealing with a free market anyway and the level of intervention we’re looking for is minimal. It may be that on this issue these groups might have some disturbing connections, though, and I think it’d be good for more conservatives to know that and to know the whole story about the monopoly problem. The question of big vs. small government is completely orthogonal to this issue.

]]> By: Uncle Ken http://stopthecap.com/2009/08/05/astroturf-groups-try-to-enlist-conservatives-to-oppose-net-neutralitys-government-takeover-of-the-internet/#comment-5635 Uncle Ken Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:36:35 +0000 http://stopthecap.com/?p=4018#comment-5635 3 questions 1 - Are these people paid anything to go to these town halls and mess up things or is this just another case of abortion clinic road rage? 2 - If I want to attend a town hall meeting on any subject should I be able to with out somebody getting in my face? 3 - What are they going to about it if I decide to go. 3 questions
1 – Are these people paid anything to go to these town halls and mess up
things or is this just another case of abortion clinic road rage?
2 – If I want to attend a town hall meeting on any subject should I be able
to with out somebody getting in my face?
3 – What are they going to about it if I decide to go.

]]> By: KP http://stopthecap.com/2009/08/05/astroturf-groups-try-to-enlist-conservatives-to-oppose-net-neutralitys-government-takeover-of-the-internet/#comment-5634 KP Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:46:44 +0000 http://stopthecap.com/?p=4018#comment-5634 FreedomWorks is the same outfit that's encouraging, if not outright instigating, the rowdiness and near-riots at political town meetings in order to shut down the health care debate. These groups claim to love competition, just as long as it isn't a federal, state or local government that's competing with their cosy interests. The reality is that in the service sector, "competition" rarely offers the consumer a genuine choice. FreedomWorks is the same outfit that’s encouraging, if not outright instigating, the rowdiness and near-riots at political town meetings in order to shut down the health care debate. These groups claim to love competition, just as long as it isn’t a federal, state or local government that’s competing with their cosy interests. The reality is that in the service sector, “competition” rarely offers the consumer a genuine choice.

]]> By: jr http://stopthecap.com/2009/08/05/astroturf-groups-try-to-enlist-conservatives-to-oppose-net-neutralitys-government-takeover-of-the-internet/#comment-5587 jr Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:06:29 +0000 http://stopthecap.com/?p=4018#comment-5587 The Dick Armeyites will oppose tax increases for multi-millionaires but support quintupling of usage fees for products the middle class uses. The Dick Armeyites will oppose tax increases for multi-millionaires but support quintupling of usage fees for products the middle class uses.

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