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#1. Nobody here has called YOU an activist.
#2. Nobody here has said that YOU were coming at this issue with "vigor, anger and emotion", so seriousness/sarcasm/??? related to your words is irrelevant to my original point. Relaying those sentiments from other organizations? No comment.
However, like I have said before, I admire your passion for this issue (and environmental issues), so if you can help get a few more people here in the states to educate themselves on the issue...AWESOME.#3. You've implied about 3-4 times now (in this thread) how all of us Americans must be uneducated related to this issue, as you would hope that Canadians wouldn't be as "ignorant" (my words, but I think your meaning) if your government were pushing similar legislation. Another common Democratic "marketing technique" (at least here in the states)...shaming or belittling other people into somehow supporting one's cause and/or views. Notice though how successful that strategy has worked for the Democratic Party here in the United States since the 1998-2000 elections......
I have eight years of economics classes under my belt (though I am admittedly MUCH better in my understanding of impacts on a "micro" vs. "macro" level). I built the online interface for the first online distance learning program in the United States (Bethel Theological Seminary) back in the early 1990s....and have been building web sites since before the 'net had graphics. I participate in literally 30-40 online discussion groups related to map, "tech" and web technologies on a daily basis (part of the reason why I end up working until 2-3am every evening). I've helped start three businesses that made HEAVY use of internet technology beyond simply having a web site as another form of advertising (two of my own, one of which failed, one of which is going strong). I've taught marketing/economics/web/graphics workshops and classes off-and-on for the past 5+ years. Etc., etc., etc.
My opinion on this issue is similar to what Rob has been saying about "the sky not falling." Do I want the U.S. government to stomp all-over Net Neutrality? Absolutely not! Do I think that "THE TRUTH" on this issue lies somewhere between what the telecoms are trying to communicate and what groups like savetheinternet.com are trying to relay? Absolutely....though I DO personally believe "THE TRUTH" lies closer to savetheinternet.com.
That said, REGARDLESS of what the U.S. government does related to this issue, I don't see the doomsday scenario that some folks are using to scare-up support for their particular organizations/causes, because:
A. The internet is bigger than ANY government...and no amount of legislation passed in the United States (or any other country) can change that. Add-in several more speed-bumps? Sure. "Kill the internet"?! It's FAR too late for anyone to remotely hope of accomplishing that.
B. I have faith in industry....and the intelligence and innovative abilities of our nation's (and our world's) entrepreneurs. If there is a good idea out there that will allow folks with talent and BIG hearts to "stick it to The Man" (telecoms, Microsoft, etc.), it'll get done. As a "cousin" to those individuals, there is also a LOT of money to be made in developing alternative forms of internet infrastructure/communication....and where there is money to be made, you'll have hundreds/thousands of individuals lining up, looking for a better way to build a mousetrap.
C. "The Truth" NEVER lies with the far-left or far-right on A-N-Y issue! Rather, the truth ALWAYS lies somewhere in between. Being a "moderate" does NOT mean being "uneducated" or "indifferent" related to issues of __________. Rather, it means that someone isn't going to sign some petition for any group/cause until they've done a little homework and investigated BOTH sides of the issue.
D. Telecoms SHOULD be able to profit from their infrastructure, as well as cover their costs for an ever-increasing demand being placed upon that infrastructure! The United States already has numerous laws which prohibit any-number of predatory pricing practices and/or monopolies/monopolistic competition...as well as laws which prohibit the freedom of speech. If the telecoms break any of those existing laws, there will be consequences....in the Legislative and Judicial Branches of government, as well as in the marketplace via people voting with their wallets.
Anyway, enough of a long-winded reply from Yours Truly!
I just had to respond, as your last message seemed to be taking a different, more "personal" tone....and I didn't want you to think that any of my previous comments were directed at YOU, but rather some of the sources of information you are conveying.YOU?
Telecoms, "Propagandists" (on both sides of the issue), etc?
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