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 fcislerPremium
join:2004-06-14
Riverhead, NY | reply to chlen
Re: LMAO While I do see your point and it is valid, I still disagree. You obviously have more experience than I do.
Comparing broadband to natural gas pipeline is apples and oranges. You could get someone to install a heater with the natural gas pipeline - and the people would benefit.
What about internet? "Free WiFi!". Now what when no one has a PC? Oh, free "Internet terminals"? Oh....they would need to be able to read. I am not in any way diminishing anyone's intelligence or insinuating that every person of the nation is illiterate, but it's almost a requirement for using a PC.
While in the long haul, it may pay off - but I only see it benefiting those who have money currently. At the prices, and a median income of around $16,000 (source: wikipedia) - who can currently afford an internet connection? I couldn't, and I make significantly more than that.
Ok, so now instead of $200/mo, it's $100/mo. "The People" still can't afford it....
You think this will cause, lets say, and internet cafe to lower it's prices? I highly doubt it.
While Natural Gas, Water and Phones (cell in this case) are considered "basic utility", the Internet is not. I would rather see a company invest in a water filtration system (several do - I'm talking about Google/HSBC) then Internet connections. | |
 chlenEthically ChallengedPremium
join:2001-01-16
Albany, NY | But that is the point more infrastructure means more people will learn to read, more fiber means more electricity to run pump stations etc...
The first businesses to go up after the fall of Baghdad were internet cafes with cheap old recycled PCs.
This investment pays off, and very well, HSBC and Google are not altruistic organizations, they know what they are doing.
They did this in China, India, South America and now moving to Africa. Sure, it will take time, but trust me or the experts at Google or HSBC, these ventures pay off. First will come cheap TV, then people will attend schools in one or two generations it will be the next cheap labor market, semi-skilled, literate and connected.
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"He who is not afraid today to say 'no' to the repressive machinery of a criminal bureaucracy earns the right to be called a Human Being."
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