pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Bad Idea in So Many Ways
Why do people think this is a good idea? There are just so many examples of government at all levels screwing things up so badly. Do you really want those same governments running these networks?
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Tancredo 2008! |
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ieolus
Support The Clecs
join:2001-06-19
Duluth, GA
2 edits | Exactly what is needed.
Yes. |
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tsu9
join:2001-08-17
Wheeling, IL | reply to pnh102
Re: Bad Idea in So Many Ways
Allow me to paraphrase:
"There are just so many examples of [companies] at all levels screwing things up so badly. Do you really want those same [companies] running these networks?"
It's bad, either way. |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
 ·Comcast
| said by tsu9  :"There are just so many examples of [companies] at all levels screwing things up so badly. Do you really want those same [companies] running these networks?" It's bad, either way. No, it isn't. When a government screws up, the citizens, whether they like it or not, are required to clean up the mess, which usually requires higher taxes for that purpose, and even that operation is just as inefficient and wasteful as the original screwup was to begin with.
At least when a private company screws up, the only people affected are investors who willingly chose to accept the risk. Other people are not affected.
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Tancredo 2008! |
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GhostDoggy
join:2005-05-11
Duluth, GA | reply to pnh102
Do you give your government any credit, ever? Maybe you should stick that right hand out and say, "Heil Hitler!" and see if that government would do you better.  |
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tsu9
join:2001-08-17
Wheeling, IL
| reply to pnh102
Given that most areas have few choices for this sort of thing, when the privately held companies screw up, the citizens feel it as well. It doesn't come as taxes, but it definately is handed down.
Incidentally, I was more referring to the state of the network, rather than the state of one's wallet. |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
1 edit | said by tsu9 :Given that most areas have few choices for this sort of thing, when the privately held companies screw up, the citizens feel it as well. People who choose to live in areas where broadband is sparse and the complain about the lack of broadband have other issues. If its that important to someone, then they should move to where the broadband is.
said by tsu9 :Incidentally, I was more referring to the state of the network, rather than the state of one's wallet. Well, let's take a look at how well most governments run the following:
•Public Schools - Why is it that we spend more and more and more on K12 education, more than any other civilization on earth and many rural and urban school systems still don't make the grade?
•Amtrak - Why does Congress think that maintaining a railroad which runs out to places where few people live will run at a profit?
•Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid - These programs are rife with so much waste and fraud already... Do you really think with the way the government spends money that you will ever see these benefits when you retire?
•Border Security - Yeah, right!
•Roads - We have a major highway network that is in need of upgrades and the bill we get out of Congress builds a bridge to nowhere in Alaska? WTF?
•Disaster Relief - FEMA, anyone?
With this in mind, I wouldn't even trust these guys with a wire crimper and a CAT-5e cable, much less running the Internet.
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Tancredo 2008! |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| reply to GhostDoggy
said by GhostDoggy :Do you give your government any credit, ever? No, because anything good that happens in this country is the result of hard working people and elbow grease, not the government.
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Tancredo 2008! |
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jimbo2150
join:2004-05-10
Youngstown, OH
| reply to pnh102
said by pnh102 :At least when a private company screws up, the only people affected are investors who willingly chose to accept the risk. Other people are not affected. Which would you rather have: a little bit higher risk of a SLIGHT increase in taxes, or have decent service & competetative business guaranteed?
When the investors end up having to pay for a screw-up, think what usually happens. The investors pay for the very LEAST that can be done then very little innovation is completed as the businesses are controlled by profit-loving investors.
When competition is not had, investors rule the day (unfortunately). At this point with internet it is getting to a point where the government will be required to step in a bit or face little innovation (and neighborhood 'cherry-picking') by the big companies.
I would also like to know... why are ATT/Verizon/Bell not competing on a consumer internet level???
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- "Techie" Jim |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| said by jimbo2150 :Which would you rather have: a little bit higher risk of a SLIGHT increase in taxes, or have decent service & competetative business guaranteed? The assumption that government control of the Internet would result in decent service & competitive business is wrong.
And no, I don't want the risk of even a SLIGHT increase in taxes, because every tax increase I've seen has never been slight.
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Tancredo 2008! |
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tsu9
join:2001-08-17
Wheeling, IL | reply to pnh102
Like I said, neither choice is particularly savory. The current state is vastly preferrable to either getting their grubby little mitts on it. |
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BloodRoses
Gods lend wings to tainted hearts
Premium
join:2003-03-17
clubs:
·Cox HSI
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to pnh102
said by pnh102 :If its that important to someone, then they should move to where the broadband is. Exactly! Charter sucks, so I moved! Hi neighbor. 
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Cheers,
Stephanie - www.GlitterFaerie.com |
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Ignite
Premium,VIP
join:2004-03-18
UK
clubs:
·BlueYonder Interne..
·Be There
| reply to pnh102
Have you considered toppling the government and embracing annarchy, as you seem to object to anything government does?
This all from the same guy who had Rove/Rumsfeld in his signature at one point |
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quetwo
That VoIP Guy
Premium
join:2004-09-04
East Lansing, MI
| reply to pnh102
As it stands for me, I don't live out in the boon-docs. In face, I live in a fairly large city, this state's capitol if you will. When I moved in, I was told broadband was an option -- but what they didn't say was that broadband over 1MB was not available (nor does it seem that it ever will be). Comcast isn't out on my block (a big surprise too), so I must rely on the aging lead and copper wires in the air for my broadband.
As far as Amtrak -- Amtrak wouldn't serve anybody except for the biggest cities, if they weren't forced to. How would those without a car get from point a to point b? Greyhound would be a similar scenario.
Roads -- Thank the politicians for the way bills get voted on. |
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grandpinaple
join:2006-01-03
New York, NY | reply to Ignite
The republic platform used to be for small government. Now it is for smaller government than the democrats, but yes that is debatable. |
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Cod
join:2000-07-05
Greensboro, NC
| reply to jimbo2150
said by jimbo2150 :I would also like to know... why are ATT/Verizon/Bell not competing on a consumer internet level??? They do not have a presense in each other's respective territories on the consumer level. |
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Tsume
join:2004-02-23
Johnson City, TN
·Embarq
 ·ViaTalk
·Comcast
| reply to pnh102
To me, it really can't get much worse for most of the bells. Exceptions are Verizon and many cable companies (although a bit over priced on the cable companies part) are actually upgrading speeds decently, and expanding their network.
Here it's COX or AT&T. Hmm... 9mbps... or 3mbps?
It's an obvious choice for me. Hell, COX just upgraded their standard tier here to what AT&T's highest tier is anywhere (6mbps).
Anyway, Bellsouth, Qwest, and AT&T judging from the comments made by their executives do not plan on upgrading. These are the companies I can see helped by the "threat" of a government takeover- note I say "threat" and not actually taking the company over. It might scare them into innovating. Worst comes to worse, the government will take over AT&T.
Now, let's think about it. The government will probably add some huge amount to your monthly bill, say 10 or 20 dollars. To me, that would be worth it if they would deploy some upgrades. To others, maybe not.
As to your logic of "if you don't have good broadband here, then move" - well, if you don't like the government run AT&T, then move somewhere where you can use a different ISP
See what I mean?
Not all companies should be threatened by government takeovers. My current ISP, COX, has actually been upgrading many of their markets; selling off others so they can focus on upgrading their current markets. I think they are doing fine the way they are. I really only see huge problems with the telcos (excluding Verizon because they are deploying FIOS).
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"True warriors do not follow paths, they make them. It is not just their desire, it is their nature." (Battletech) |
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scrummie02
Bentley
Premium
join:2004-04-16
Arlington, VA
| reply to pnh102
what is ironic is the same people tat are screaming for the government to get involved in regulating the internet or take control of it are the same folks that scream when the very same government wants to wire-tap to catch terrorist thugs. If they seize control or create regulations they will have even more power to do as they wish and breach our "1st and 4th amendment rights".
I'd prefer the government stay out of this all together. |
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scrummie02
Bentley
Premium
join:2004-04-16
Arlington, VA | reply to pnh102
ahem...as a former military member I might take offense to that. The military (with politics aside) is full of hard working individuals. Some of the most hard working I'd venture to guess.... |
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tsu9
join:2001-08-17
Wheeling, IL | reply to scrummie02
There is a difference between ham-fisting and making sure the boys in the sandlot play nice. |
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