Reviews:
 ·Armstrong Zoom ..
| reply to jsouth
Re: Cannot read it... I think they fixed the link after I posted...
Anyway, now that I can read it, I do not think governments should be able to set up broadband networks that are extremely cheap because they are funded by tax payers.
Everyone in a city uses water, it makes sense to have local government run that. Less than 40% of people have broadband and I think the last numbers I looked at were 70% do not even want any internet access!!
So my point is the government should not be bringing in cheaper services than the current providers already have. Market driven prices are market driven prices and introducing government (again, tax payers) into the picture basically throws the idea out the window.
Why not start government controlled grocery stores that are cheaper? Maybe car sales? Of course not. Generally the only think the government used to get into were things that were not profitable, where the only people that would pay for it was tax payers. This includes roads, street lights and other things that really do not rake in profit. |
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| The way I see it, cities needs to generate income -- we all know they got too fat in the '90s, so way not resale access?
Or they could just say, f-it, and raise taxes or better yet, lay off police, fire, teachers, their brother in-laws, wifes, girl friends, etc.
Don't lose sleep over it, Comcast and everyone else selling access is making a small mint. |
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 needforspeed59Cruise Ship Just Passing Through
join:2001-05-02
Glendale, AZ | reply to keyboard5684
Couldn't have said it better myself. I agree with you 100% Why not state run grocery stores? Can you say, "USSR"? LOL! It's a slippery slope when governments think they can take taxpayer money and run private enterprise (greedy corps to some of you) out of business. Glad I live in a Red state where conservative heads prevail.
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Of all the people I know... you're one of them. |
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 pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | reply to keyboard5684
said by keyboard5684:Generally the only think the government used to get into were things that were not profitable ... This includes roads, street lights and other things that really do not rake in profit. You cannot accurately say that roads in Pennsylvania do not make a profit. All of PennDOT's money comes from gas taxes, permit fees and registration fees. None of it comes from the Commonwealth. If you live in Pennsylvania and do not drive, none of your money goes to pay for state highways. The state highway system, along with the Pennsylvania Turnpike, each pay for themselves.
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Hey Fast Eddie... you're next! |
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| I was thinking more of borough/city roads. |
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| reply to keyboard5684
You don't consider data-communications networks as part of the necessary infrastructure of a modern, civilized, society? What if things like exercising your civic duty, move entirely on-line? (Hopefully that will never happen, but it's possible.)
What about the telephone networks, or the postal mail network?
Should only 40% of society have access to those?
One of the only reasons that the telco POTS network has such widespread coverage, is that gov't regulations *mandate* that.
Why should the newly-emergent datacomms networks be any different? |
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approval from:
John Galt 
| reply to needforspeed59
Okay, so how about we privatize those fire departments and police stations then? I'm sure that quality Verizon-type customer service would be just wonderful. 
"For grease fires, press 1. For electrical fires, press 2. For gasoline fires, press 3...If you suspect arson, press 4. For other life-threatening emergencies, press 5. If you don't know the type of fire you are being burned by, please press 6." |
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 John GaltForward, MarchPremium
join:2004-09-30
Happy Camp
kudos:3 | said by bluestateofmind:Okay, so how about we privatize those fire departments and police stations then? I'm sure that quality Verizon-type customer service would be just wonderful. "For grease fires, press 1. For electrical fires, press 2. For gasoline fires, press 3...If you suspect arson, press 4. For other life-threatening emergencies, press 5. If you don't know the type of fire you are being burned by, please press 6." "For all other fires, please hold and the first available Customer Service Representative will be with you as soon as possible."
"While you are waiting, please make sure that you have your 24 digit alphanumeric account number ready, along with a copy of your most recent paid subscription receipt."
"Thanks for calling Privatized Fire Services, and remember, we value your patronage and look forward to serving you long into the future."
After this you hear a click, and dial-tone....
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A is A |
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| reply to keyboard5684
I am as conservative as anyone out there (at least as far as economic policies are concerned) but I do think that telecom services are "public goods" in the strict economic definition, and should be treated as such.
I think you can argue they are at least as much a public good as K-12 education, and most people seem to think that public funding of education is OK.
However, a practice that I find horrific, especially in the supposed free market, is that any company would choose support laws that expressly reduce competition and enforce those companies' ability to monopolize and provide crappy service.
And as I recall from economics 101, the overall economic loss from the inefficiency of monopoly is pretty large too. |
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