What is Digg?Sponsored by Travelzoo
Take Advantage of Ridiculously Low Holiday Airfares view!
travelzoo.com - Flights $52 and up for Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year. But move on it now.
177 Comments
- kajoob, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5"The American republic will endure until the politicians find they can bribe the people with their own money."
-Alexis de Toqueville
Just say no to Socialism. - EchoZoe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Republicans, Democrats, they're all the same. They want to take your money (by force if necessary) and give it to someone who will vote to re-elect them. I've read the Constitution (unlike 99% of the country) and I've never seen any clause that gives the government the power to tax the people in order to provide any service to those who can't afford it.
The internet is a luxury, not a necessity. If you want to disagree, that's fine, but I'm already paying taxes that put internet access in every library I've been in in the last 5 years. If you want to argue someone needs internet, they can go to the library at get it. The next thing they'll say is that everyone should get a new computer every 3 years so they can access the internet. Then they'll say that we should tax everyone to pay for the electricity to power the computers that access the internet for poor people. No thanks.
To the guy who said God will send us all to hell for not buying poor people internet access, you obviously have no understanding of God. The 8th Commandment is "Thou Shalt Not Steal". This means you shouldn't steal. It also means you shouldn't hire others to steal for you (politicians).
You also fail to see your own selfishness in your comment. "me me me me". Well, you want free internet, but don't want to pay for it. Sounds pretty selfish to me.
It's great that you want to provide internet to those who can't afford it. I applaud you. Where we differ is that I would not use the force of tax law to compel anyone to be so charitable. - gameeks, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4This Is stupid. Not only would it put tons of ISP's out of business. Do you really want your government filtering every thing you see and do on the web. Do you want the government to create new standards that would cost companies millions to update systems and networks. And finally, do you want to pay for all of this in your taxes. Think about it.
- dknighton, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"And that's why the democrats are just as stupid as the republicans. Go libertarian."
Rock on, brutha! Go Libertarian and give me my FairTax! - FunHeadlines, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Dudes, politicians have been calling for this for years now. It sure wasn't Bush who was the first, so let's stop with the "he copied him" nonsense.
- Laughingman234, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3If you read the story you'd see that the proposal was not just for internet expansion but for expansion of scholarships and grants and such because many of the scientific people are no longer coming from american universities. Hey anytime the government wants to make the internet larger and give me more money for college, thats a good day no matter who proposes it.
- pashdown, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Check out UTOPIA in Utah, a fiber to the home network built by municipalities so private data providers can compete on an equal footing. Socialism? Yes, just like our socialistic roads, airports, and sewer systems.
There is a place for the free market and there is a place for government. Things fall apart when you depend on only one. - blatch, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4And that's why the democrats are just as stupid as the republicans. Go libertarian.
- Wamzlee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2For all the people who thought this was Bush's idea first, you are idiots...or you were only 8 years old during the 2000 election campaign.
- KNon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Yay for democrats.
- spoid_, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Great, another entitlement program that we can't afford.
- martinjester, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Point A:
Talk is cheap, I don't see any action here, just "promises".
Point B:
Would you really want to use government controlled internet access? Can you just imagine how crappy it would be ? - FunHeadlines, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3This country is so polarized, if a Republican said, "The sky is blue," a bunch of Democrats would start whining, "I see plenty of clouds." If a Democrat said up is up, a bunch of Republicans would start whining, "But I like standing on my head."
- bitweever, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Ok, I know I'm a Republican, so I have to answer the obvious Republican question:
"Is this really the role of the Government?" - witz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Al Gore invented the internet, this is just a natural extension of that...;)
- Crazyguy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2We are just going to pay for it in taxes. Oh wait I don't pay taxes yet, I love this idea :)
- horatio324, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Hi Speed internet for all Americans??? I can't even get cell phone service half the time. Good luck!
- obiwanadobe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Where can I ask to opt out of paying taxes that helps support the poor oil industry?
- Reddog_x2000, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I don't care how hard or unlucky someones life has been, I don't owe them a damn thing unless I've:
1. contracted with them
2. Fathered them
3. committed a crime/tort against them.
In this case, I don't owe it to anyone to provide them with broadband access. To forcibly take wages from someone who earned their money and use it to pay any bill for someone who didn't earn that money is immoral. I don't care if every government in the world does it to everyone forever; it's still theft. End of Rant - nebunezzar, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Here's to throwing economics out the window. Just like Jburchel said. Why not just encourage competition between providers, lowering prices naturally and improving speed and quality.
- TheQwe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1amen jburchel and nebunezzar.
But economic issues aside, I don't think I want to make it easier for the government to be able to track everything I do online, anyway-- the less the government is in my face, the better. - danielson, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"I already pay for my internet and have no problem affording it. I'm a blessed person with good parents, a safe home and good job. I'm a citizen of a country that allowed me to have such a great life. So I don't mind giving a little of that back to the country that gave me that chance. There are a lot of people in this country that get paid very little doing jobs that I want them to do. Picking up garbage, pumping my gas, stocking shelves, etc... And on the off chance they have a kid that doesn't want to follow in their footsteps and go to college etc..., I don't mind throwing a few dollars their way so his parents don't have to choose between shoes and internet."
They don't have to choose. They can either send their kid to a local library since most libraries have free internet access, or their kid can access the internet from the school the kid goes to... Problem solved. - tjhanley, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2great... who's gonna pay for it?
- Duston, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"Duston, all I'm saying is the energy painting the Dems as socialist because of a proposal would be better placed at current policies that are really a waste of what taxes we are already paying."
I am not painting the Dem's a socialist. On the contrary I don't think this issue should be handled by the Federal Government. As far as tax money subsidizing private entities, I don't like it. I have never liked it. I may be persuaded that it could be necessary is a few cases such as Farming but not many.
After the record profits the Oil Companies made this last quarter, I want my money back. - nebunezzar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1For all those who are saying Repubs don't want the poor to have internet, that's not our point. As a matter of fact, for basic survival the poor can get by without internet, esp. when anyone can get access some place like a library.
To tellall, whenever some other social issue comes up on Digg you'll hear me sticking to my point. Oh wait, this is just for tech, not healthcare and housing issues.
By the way, good economics isn't all free markets, this is just one market that shouldn't be messed with.
Also, maybe I didn't read closely enough, but I don't remember seeing anything about 'free' internet. If the plan is to help ISPs improve their service some way, then maybe I'd be for it. I just don't feel like digging into it right now.
Charity should be the choice of the people, not something the government imposes on them. - DarkSenay, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1if this story said "The Government..." rather than "Democrats.." there would be half as many comments. People are just too ridiculous about their politics these days
- DM05, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"Start imposing quotas and the next thing you will have is shortages. Basic economics, which Democrats never have understood and apparently never will..."
Yeah, good job. Apparently the republicans also then dont understand economics either you tool. Bush proposed t his, as you can see from the large number of comments on the issue, a year ago. Another soft minded idiot buying into the security of a political party. Life sure is alot easier when someone else tells you what to think isnt it?
The rest of you, for the most part, are elitist snobs. "the poor don't need internet!" Might as well say the poor dont need phone lines, electricity, water lines, or anything else. I'll gladly spend a few extra dollars in taxes if need be to get highspeed internet for everyone. Unfortunately, this country is too full of selfish bastards that would rather piss away their money on worthless ***** then help their fellow man. - danielson, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"The rest of you, for the most part, are elitist snobs. "the poor don't need internet!" Might as well say the poor dont need phone lines, electricity, water lines, or anything else. I'll gladly spend a few extra dollars in taxes if need be to get highspeed internet for everyone. Unfortunately, this country is too full of selfish bastards that would rather piss away their money on worthless ***** then help their fellow man."
Maybe you should take an economics 101 course. Or even better, maybe you should go live in the economic squalor that is France and see first hand what socialism does. Maybe instead of paying more taxes, you should start a new charity called 'broadband for all'. That way, everyone that thinks like you will gladly donate all of your extra money so that lazy people can leech off of you and get the internet for free.
I would much rather piss away my money than to give it to some lazy bum who couldn't even graduate from high school and is now stuck working for McDonalds. - nebunezzar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@spiron, this may not be everywhere, but picking up garbage professionally, not like a homeless guy collecting cans, can actually pay a lot. It's a job no one wants to do, so how does it get done? Pay more salary until someone is willing to do the work. And who pumps gas anymore? If you know of any full service gas stations please let me know.
I'm sure there is a way for the government to expand broadband access that isn't detrimental to society, it's just that they won't ever figure out how. Maybe a non-profit should take up this task, that way those who are willing to pay for others' internet can, and those who want good internet access can still get it. - Stelmate, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I agree with you guys, democrats are focusing on the wrong issues. What good is free internet for the damn people who can't afford a computer. Get them what they really need, free health care. Too bad bush is pumping all of our money into the war, (Not to be overly critical but the damn thing has gone on long enough, if he can't finish it by now than he needs replaced with someone who can).
- NoUse, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1JeffS,
if you'd ever been to a country with universal health care you'd know that a 2 tier system forms in those countries. So while some have to wait for certain procedures, those than can afford it can pay for faster care. But at least they don't have 51 million people without health insurance. - gronne, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@danielson
You're a perfect example of someone who can't see outside his narrow perceptions. You think the slums are just like where you live but with poor people. You're completely ignoring the fact that some kids live in neighborhoods where bullets whiz by every day and you're not allowed to go outside -- where there are no libraries you can safely go to. God, I'm am so deeply dissapointed that you know so little. - foohookups311, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Come'on Bush, Your first clue into seeing that this is a bad idea is that democrats support it. This is a terrible idea because the middle-class american who has the luxury to pay for broadband will now have to also pay for the lazy poor welfare collecting american's broadband. This poor country goes more and more communist left each day.
- anonice, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I love the people who run around screaming "The dargambo Socialists!!!" (which is usually defined as "a state where poor people get help) whenever anything like this is even proposed. Yea, go hide being scared of socialism. Don't you think that the harbingers of a more social state would be universal healthcare or higher education and not something fairly mundane like internet access?
You know we use roads paid for by the government, right? You scared of the roads?
And to the poster who said that the providers can fight each other to provide lower prices.. where do you come from? There's a virtual monopoly by either your local phone or cable company pretty much wherever you go outside of the cities. They squeeze out any competition. I'm locked into using my local phone company for DSL. There's a reason we pay tons more for internet access than Korea and Japan do... it's because instead of being a "socialist" state as some people are so super-duper-scared of, America's become a corporatist state (and that's under the policies of both political parties). - JeffS, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"i'm a democrat, but this pisses me off. we should be less concerned about giving people broadband, and more about giving all americans free healthcare."
Because I want to wait 8 months for elective surgery or an MRI. No thanks. - Duston, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"For those of you who believe in God be prepared to explain why you still deserve to get into heaven after spending a life based on greed and spitting on those who have less than you. Good luck!"
I am going to make an assumption you are referring to the Christian God. Now He did say many things about charity to the poor. I don't think however that with the 500,000 homeless veterans (They don't really keep track of the rest of the homeless) that God is going to condemn anyone for not wanting to pay for some one else's broadband Internet. Simply put if you are charitable and by your comment I am assuming Christian give money to your church, pay for someone who can barely afford to heat there home's broadband bill if you have a hard on for bringing Internet to the poor. Just don't expect anyone else to do this. This isn't the Governments job and it has far greater things that are it's job it is consistently ***** up. - Opiate, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0pashdown, we have such a thing where i'm from in Canada although it's more of a regional thing... I think it fits well into the "infratructure" much like roads etc.. as long as the saying goes.. government can make the roads but don't make the cars that drive on them. The only problem is when said infrastructure needs upgrading.. which happends to be much more often than roads. Normally there is incentives for a private company to invest into better gear as the would like to profit from it _eventually_.. If government were to do this they would need to charge more than just their overhead costs. Will they be inclined to upgrade when it gets rough or will they just use more subsidies? Ultimately i think that's as far as government should go.. They should not be selling access .. just local loop if anything. Also if governments force private companies to do it then it's just worse. There is NO incentives to upgrade since your competition will most likely be able to use it at no extra cost to them.
- Duston, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0@spirion, I don't have a problem with the reimbursements but the Grants rub me the wrong way. Can I get a FEMA grant to fortify my house?
- Reddog_x2000, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1With regard to this quote:
"the poor don't need internet!" Might as well say the poor dont need phone lines, electricity, water lines, or anything else. I'll gladly spend a few extra dollars in taxes if need be to get highspeed internet for everyone. Unfortunately, this country is too full of selfish bastards that would rather piss away their money on worthless ***** then help their fellow man
EXCUSE ME. This is BS.
Your definition of "selfish bastard" seems to be someone who would rather use THEIR MONEY to pay their own bills than yours, or at least those whom you feel sorry for.
Who's being selfish, the person who would like to keep a few of the dollars THEY ACTUALLY EARNED? Or, the Person who would like to receive money that THEY DIDN'T EARN?
I am a former social worker. I can tell you from firsthand experience that a lot of the poor are not real capable people. They would have died on the streets if not for the taxes and charity of people more productive than them. They litter ally owe their lives to those you condemn as "selfish bastards".
Second, since the "selfish bastards" are the ones who are actually supporting the poor, yes I think we have some right to say where OUR money is being spent. Yes, that means we get to determine what is a necessity & what is a luxury.
Third, the taxpayers already support broadband connections in many public libraries.
Fourth, the poor,as a group, are not a bunch of Saints who would flower into productive upstanding citizens if they were only given the chance (sigh). The vast majority of them would not use broadband to get an educational leg up in hopes of bettering their lives. They'll use it like most folks, to download mp3's & porn and to read sports and music sites. Nothing wrong with that. But, there's also nothing worth subsidizing (Yes, I get to say that because it's my tax dollars that'll be doing part of the subsidizing)
Sorry Sonny, I know you wanted a corvette. But, all i can afford is a bus pass. It'll get you around town. What, it's not good enough? Well, I can take it back and you can sit your ass at home. Yeah, that's what I thought. - oldcyborg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Another pathetic ploy to make us forget that THEY,(congress), are not taking care of the real problems that we already have. Education is One of those. Solve the problems there, and the kids will turn out better! A fix we are already paying for!!
Infrastructure has gone to Hell.. Why isn't the government checking on these things that our money is passed out for.
Accountability!! Now I like Bush, but he has picked some of the brownie biggest losers of all time. Not to mention that accountability has also gone to hell....
There are multitudes of problems that are just overlooked, or not looked at, at all. Congress doesn't know enuff to decide who needs hi speed connection!! They really are NOT smart enuff, as a whole, to do this!! I don't give a damn whose idea it was..
So there, is my 2 yen....
Cyborg - marmaduke, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Oh and by the way, the poor take out your trash, build our buildings that contain our economy, build the infastructure that allows our society to exist, they serve us fast food, they do all the things that the well off would never think of doing. I think we owe them at least a little.
- davebrook, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0This was Bush's idea first ... that's toooo funny! Stop it yer killin' me! Sadly the Democrats suck only slightly less than the Republicans ... but two things are certain: this war is a complete joke (and based on intentional lies) and Bush is a complete failure by any metric.
- FunkyWitDaSysTm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0yay! go democrats!
- Opiate, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0To add to my post, It only really works in heavily populated areas. I makes not much sense to upgrade all rural areas. Eventually it will happend but the technology isn't cheap enough yet. That's why you wait for capitalism to do it's work and eventually it's affordable for everyone. Assuming you aren't taxed to hell that is...
- sabster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Yeah okay by the time they finish giving everyone broadband.. the next big internet transfer protocol will be released lol
- Duston, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"We're on the verge of seeing Roe vs. Wade overturned (snip) And you think we're becoming more socialist???"
I fail to see what Roe v. Wade has to do with our economic system.
I don't remember seeing anything on the news about the Fed's giving money to churches. I am pretty sure that wouldn't happen but I could be wrong. - spartan777, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0like any nice-sounding plan brought up by the dems, it has one critical flaw... WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR IT?
- obiwanadobe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Duston, all I'm saying is the energy painting the Dems as socialist because of a proposal would be better placed at current policies that are really a waste of what taxes we are already paying.
- nebunezzar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0it'd be cool if someone tallied up how many posts ppl made here(not counting this one for me), see who's on top, maybe it should be a digg feature
- Duston, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Again, with that last link it's a historic building. It's not like the are subsidizing direct mail, "Save your soul" marketing.
-
Show 51 - 100 of 177 discussions
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is