Ted Cruz goes full retard: Net Neutrality is Obamacare for Internet

[Zargon]

Maybe you do dude, but I surely don't. No federal state or local tax on my internet at all - dude.

my bad, they had mine lumped at the end of the bill, but closer inspection shows its all TV taxes and PEG fees.

 

[Jaskalas]

There isn't any one solution for the problems of the internet. What we have to deal with at the moment is net neutrality. The FCC chairman has one interest and that's what the industry wants. Congress is much the same. Any new rules will be designed such that they will be ineffective and might as well not be.

The only solution is to regulate it as a utility. Does that have problems? Sure, but the telecom companies have not left much of a choice and have forced the issue. So be it.

Are the telcos on the verge of doing something so bad- as to warrant this? You sound like we need to respond to their assault on the internet.

 

[BoberFett]

I'm all for net neutrality, I just have zero confidence in any politician, Democrat or Republican, to even understand the issue much less craft sensible legislation to ensure I'm not held hostage by government sponsored monopolies.

 

[MongGrel]

Someone will muck it up yet.

 

[Zargon]

Are the telcos on the verge of doing something so bad- as to warrant this? You sound like we need to respond to their assault on the internet.

so right now

you pay for Comcast internet

you pay for Netflix

Comcast charges Netflix for consuming bandwidth, the bandwidth you aalready paid for

Netflix in reponse raises your rate

so you are paying for the bandwidth twice, and Comcast is getting paid for it 3 times, while providing it once


Comcast charges me 55 bucks a month for bandwidth, they shouldn't they try and charge the other end of my connections for it..

if you cant see why this is an assault on the internet, then I cannot help you.

 

[boomerang]

I just have zero confidence in any politician, Democrat or Republican, to even understand the issue much less craft sensible legislation to ensure I'm not held hostage by government sponsored monopolies.

Which takes us full circle to the point Cruz was trying to make. Why trust the Internet to the same fuck-ups that brought us Obamacare? Wake up people. Congress will farm out crafting the legislation to people that don't truly know and certainly don't care. They are in it only for a paycheck. Then Congress will not bother to read the bill, they will just vote on it based on how they feel it will fatten their own wallets.

Nothing has changed. It's still the same people. We've got simpletons in this thread that actually think it's an anti-Obama situation. It's anti-government sentiment based on everything that they fuck up! If they passed a bill, how many years from now will we hear some dipshit proclaiming that the legislation was written to take advantage of "the stupidity of the American voter"? This, after we've got an enormous mess on our hands.

How many of you are aware of the very real potential that the SCOTUS may bring Obamacare to a crashing halt? Why? Because of the dipshits that drafted the bill! In the meantime you're arguing whether Republicans are going to repeal Obamacare. The language in the bill is going to do it in. No Republican required.

This is the same thing over and over and we're not going to get different results with Net Neutrality legislation. Wait until it's an actual problem and then, maybe, just maybe the geniuses in Congress might have a better understanding of it. But they will still approach it from the perspective of 'what's in it for me'? How can I, an esteemed Senator or Congressperson of the United States of America benefit personally from passing this legislation?

The system is rotten, the system is corrupt, the system is serving the wrong masters. Some of you amaze me. How can you trust these people anymore?

"Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son." It applies other places than Delta house.

 

[BoberFett]

Also, LOL at idiots who think Republicans are the problem and that Obama is the answer.

 

[Fern]

-snip-
Go learn the difference between utility regulation and non-utility.

I'm not following your post?

Obama has said he wants the internet to be reclassified as a utility:

On Monday, Obama called for the internet to be reclassified as a utility service.

So, why are comments about utility regulations incorrect?

Fern

 

[TechBoyJK]

Also, LOL at idiots who think Republicans are the problem and that Obama is the answer.

Well, I'd also lol at those who don't think statements like Cruz' are a problem.

 

[BoberFett]

Nope.

The joy and satisfaction that would be derived from Obama making the above mentioned declaration would be in seeing morons such as yourself and Cruz squirm:

"Well, I'd caution anyone to take the Presidents word at face value. It's more of a blue-gray..."

Then somehow bringing Obamacare, Benghazi, and Lois Lerner into the mix, with a side of CLIMATE CHANGE IS A LIE for good measure.

For the mental midgets in the audience:

http://theoatmeal.com/blog/net_neutrality

Ah yes, the problem is the anti-Obama Republicans.

Of course, if Obama said the sky was blue and somebody posted a beautiful picture of the setting sun, the Cult of Obama would claim it must be the evil handiwork of Fox News and the Koch Brothers trying to convince deniers that the sky was anything other than blue, and that conservatives and other non-Democrat types had a brain defect that must be causing them to see the sky incorrectly.

 

[Engineer]

FCC delays Net Neutrality decision until 2015.

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/As-the-Fight-Heats-Up-FCC-Delays-Neutrality-Rules-to-2015-131259

 

[Jaskalas]

so you are paying for the bandwidth twice

I agree we should stop this, but a simple requirement to give us consumers the full bill up front should suffice. Instead we'll allow our government to reclassify and go nuclear on the subject.

Suppose the impetus of my hesitation is a strong distrust in politicians. I firmly believe they'll destroy everything they touch. Keep a piece of legislation / or executive action simple and to the point, and you have me with you. Craft 1,000 pages or reclassify it to assume full control... and I take issue with the method used.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

Which takes us full circle to the point Cruz was trying to make. Why trust the Internet to the same fuck-ups that brought us Obamacare? Wake up people. Congress will farm out crafting the legislation to people that don't truly know and certainly don't care. They are in it only for a paycheck. Then Congress will not bother to read the bill, they will just vote on it based on how they feel it will fatten their own wallets.

Nothing has changed. It's still the same people. We've got simpletons in this thread that actually think it's an anti-Obama situation. It's anti-government sentiment based on everything that they fuck up! If they passed a bill, how many years from now will we hear some dipshit proclaiming that the legislation was written to take advantage of "the stupidity of the American voter"? This, after we've got an enormous mess on our hands.

How many of you are aware of the very real potential that the SCOTUS may bring Obamacare to a crashing halt? Why? Because of the dipshits that drafted the bill! In the meantime you're arguing whether Republicans are going to repeal Obamacare. The language in the bill is going to do it in. No Republican required.

This is the same thing over and over and we're not going to get different results with Net Neutrality legislation. Wait until it's an actual problem and then, maybe, just maybe the geniuses in Congress might have a better understanding of it. But they will still approach it from the perspective of 'what's in it for me'? How can I, an esteemed Senator or Congressperson of the United States of America benefit personally from passing this legislation?

The system is rotten, the system is corrupt, the system is serving the wrong masters. Some of you amaze me. How can you trust these people anymore?

"Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son." It applies other places than Delta house.

+1 - I'm glad I'm not the only one who saw through all of this bullshit, knee jerk reactionary cheerleading for "Team D" or "Team R". Meanwhile the actual problem that consumers face is being derailed and ignored, i.e. a lack of market based competition in many localities which give consumers no choice regardless of net-neutrality being in place or not.

Worse of all is the sly nature of government creep (which would eventually lay in bed with a chosen "Winner") that is being positioned into the conversation that would do little, to nothing to fix the problem. But hey, it sure would give government a nice way to exert control over internet users, morose then they have done in the past (and are doing today) but with the false illusion of "Its for your own good" that would not be questioned by the lemmings because they have/are being sold bullshit on a stick.

 

[Engineer]

You guys can bitch and moan but we wouldn't be in this position if the ISP's hadn't killed competition via lobby instead of just trying to outperform them as well as the idea that the previous net neutrality principles were working fine until Verizon decided to sue and break it up (even though they helped to write them).

1. Lobby and pay big money to create monopolies. Check.
2. Break up Net Neutrality rules in place. Check.
3. Start to throttle popular companies and not let them have bandwidth that the CONSUMER already pays for unless they too pay. Check.
4. Cry like babies when the public gets pissed off and wants to put a stronger net neutrality in place. Check.

Sorry about your luck. You reap what you sow!

 

[fskimospy]

+1 - I'm glad I'm not the only one who saw through all of this bullshit, knee jerk reactionary cheerleading for "Team D" or "Team R". Meanwhile the actual problem that consumers face is being derailed and ignored, i.e. a lack of market based competition in many localities which give consumers no choice regardless of net-neutrality being in place or not.

Worse of all is the sly nature of government creep (which would eventually lay in bed with a chosen "Winner") that is being positioned into the conversation that would do little, to nothing to fix the problem. But hey, it sure would give government a nice way to exert control over internet users, morose then they have done in the past (and are doing today) but with the false illusion of "Its for your own good" that would not be questioned by the lemmings because they have/are being sold bullshit on a stick.

Yeah, it's all the government's fault, it couldn't possibly be that all the telecom companies merged competition out of existence.

I'm always amazed how you guys can literally ALWAYS find a way to blame the government and excuse private market asshattery, even in egregious cases like this.

Can you do me a favor? Can you tell me literally a single time you believe the free market failed and government intervention is necessary?

 

[DrDoug]

People who think that true competition will drive down prices are not drinking Jonestown Flav-R-Aid, they are chewing on cyanide tablets. Businesses hate competition and they will do anything if possible to prevent it. Competition cuts into profits and market control, the two things that matter most to a business. Whenever an area of the market is moving big money (from consumer to business), the Big Boys have always stepped in and wrested control so they can milk it for all it's worth. It has always been this way and it will always be this way. While businesses who need your business because of real competition will have better prices, businesses who have your business locked up don't have to give you better prices. They own you. You are not a customer, you are sheep lining up at the barn to be shorn of your wool without having to be herded there. You'll bitch about high prices and poor service but who cares? All they have to do is pay you lip service (it's cheap!) and that's it. Where are you going to go for what you want when they own it all? Yeah.

These big boys are too big to control and you aren't going to be able to do a damned thing about it. They own enough politicians to pretty much get whatever they want, despite the fact that you are the ones who voted those politicians into office for them. Money talks to politicians and it's the sweetest speech they can hear. Your mere words won't fill their bank accounts or provide them jobs after they leave government, only the big boys can do that for them. These politicians represent wealth and power, not you. They make you fear government involvement or intervention despite the fact that THEY ARE THE GOVERNMENT! This is like having the wolves guarding the sheep, herding them with the fear of the 'real wolves' who are out to get them. If any of the Big Boys have a big problem they need to deal with their paid mouthpieces who represent us step forth to blame it on government and the sheep eat it up. The Big Boys have the best government money can buy and it isn't going to end until we stop going at each others throats and latch onto theirs instead.

THAT is why certain politicians stir up animosity between citizens; to keep us voting for them and to keep us busy while their owners rob us blind. Just like pickpockets like to work in teams; one to distract and the other to rob you. So lets just continue to attack each other and whine about them, k? After all it's been working great so far, right?

For them.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

Yeah, it's all the government's fault, it couldn't possibly be that all the telecom companies merged competition out of existence.

I'm always amazed how you guys can literally ALWAYS find a way to blame the government and excuse private market asshattery, even in egregious cases like this.

Can you do me a favor? Can you tell me literally a single time you believe the free market failed and government intervention is necessary?

Really tell me how free is the market for those looking to enter it as a broadband ISPs in most municipalities? The market today for ISP's in every major urban center is a product of local governments picking winners and losers and then walling off their chosen winner with a wall of regulations and licensing fees. You'd have be blind not to notice the uphill battle that companies like Google face even when they offer to lay down the infrastructure at no cost or at a low cost and established, well protected (via the regulatory laws and licensing fees they helped to craft and proposed) players like Comcast move to push up or stifle the lowering of the cost of entry.

 

[etrigan420]

Ah yes, the problem is the anti-Obama Republicans.

Of course, if Obama said the sky was blue and somebody posted a beautiful picture of the setting sun, the Cult of Obama would claim it must be the evil handiwork of Fox News and the Koch Brothers trying to convince deniers that the sky was anything other than blue, and that conservatives and other non-Democrat types had a brain defect that must be causing them to see the sky incorrectly.

Yes, that's exactly what would happen...

You're idiocy is only surpassed by your fuckwittery.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

People who think that true competition will drive down prices are not drinking Jonestown Flav-R-Aid, they are chewing on cyanide tablets. Businesses hate competition and they will do anything if possible to prevent it. Competition cuts into profits and market control, the two things that matter most to a business. Whenever an area of the market is moving big money (from consumer to business), the Big Boys have always stepped in and wrested control so they can milk it for all it's worth. It has always been this way and it will always be this way. While businesses who need your business because of real competition will have better prices, businesses who have your business locked up don't have to give you better prices. They own you. You are not a customer, you are sheep lining up at the barn to be shorn of your wool without having to be herded there. You'll bitch about high prices and poor service but who cares? All they have to do is pay you lip service (it's cheap!) and that's it. Where are you going to go for what you want when they own it all? Yeah.

These big boys are too big to control and you aren't going to be able to do a damned thing about it. They own enough politicians to pretty much get whatever they want, despite the fact that you are the ones who voted those politicians into office for them. Money talks to politicians and it's the sweetest speech they can hear. Your mere words won't fill their bank accounts or provide them jobs after they leave government, only the big boys can do that for them. These politicians represent wealth and power, not you. They make you fear government involvement or intervention despite the fact that THEY ARE THE GOVERNMENT! This is like having the wolves guarding the sheep, herding them with the fear of the 'real wolves' who are out to get them. If any of the Big Boys have a big problem they need to deal with their paid mouthpieces who represent us step forth to blame it on government and the sheep eat it up. The Big Boys have the best government money can buy and it isn't going to end until we stop going at each others throats and latch onto theirs instead.

THAT is why certain politicians stir up animosity between citizens; to keep us voting for them and to keep us busy while their owners rob us blind. Just like pickpockets like to work in teams; one to distract and the other to rob you. So lets just continue to attack each other and whine about them, k? After all it's been working great so far, right?

For them.

Everyone hates competition but without it you get the sour results we see in almost every area where there is no competition amongst entities be public or private. In other words politicians and political parties are no different than cable or telecom companies. The fact is that ensuring that competition actually exists (in all spheres of life) and that it is not a figment of our imaginations is the only best method to keep organizations (businesses, political parties and government at all levels) and individuals honest. There is no other way around this fact. Absent competition those in control just provide you with what they think you deserve without fear of ever having to earn your money/vote.

 

[jackstar7]

Everyone hates competition but without it you get the sour results we see in almost every area where there is no competition amongst entities be public or private. In other words politicians and political parties are no different than cable or telecom companies. The fact is that ensuring that competition actually exists (in all spheres of life) and that it is not a figment of our imaginations is the only best method to keep organizations (businesses, political parties and government at all levels) and individuals honest. There is no other way around this fact. Absent competition those in control just provide you with what they think you deserve without fear of ever having to earn your money/vote.

So who/what is (or would be) ensuring competition?

 

[master_shake_]

net neutrality is to obamacare
as apples are to _______?

anyone like to fill that blank?

 

[zanejohnson]

this video is relevant and explains common carriage..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35rQsOBAVBs

 

[DucatiMonster696]

So who/what is (or would be) ensuring competition?

Removing or reducing the regulatory barriers that keep other would be ISP providers from moving into established markets that are dominated by the likes of Comcast and the gang. The easier it is for this other companies to move into the ISP arena the more competitive it becomes and the less protection dominant players have in using government to create laws that favor them (that are designed from the ground floor to help to increase the cost of entry into the market) the easier it is to say a Google, or Amazon to come out and change the field of play for those who have grown too big, too slow or too complacent to adapt to changing consumer trends, technology, etc. The more competition the more value consumers get for the money they spend in a market arena where they are not just left with 1 viable choice.

 

[BoberFett]

Yes, that's exactly what would happen...

You're idiocy is only surpassed by your fuckwittery.

Truth hurts, eh dipshit?

 

[DrDoug]

Everyone hates competition but without it you get the sour results we see in almost every area where there is no competition amongst entities be public or private. In other words politicians and political parties are no different than cable or telecom companies. The fact is that ensuring that competition actually exists (in all spheres of life) and that it is not a figment of our imaginations is the only best method to keep organizations (businesses, political parties and government at all levels) and individuals honest. There is no other way around this fact. Absent competition those in control just provide you with what they think you deserve without fear of ever having to earn your money/vote.

Regarding everyone hating competition; no they don't. Consumers want competition, business don't and if they can they will stop it. With that basic fact in place, how do you propose changing what is in place now? Your post is stating what you believe but it doesn't address how we get there, does it?

Because you can't get where you want, you're just a consumer. You aren't going to get politicians to where you want, that's for damned sure. If you think your politicians are trying to do the job but are being blocked by _________ (insert evil fiends here) then you are a fool.