[MW Forums]

Christians join rock stars in supporting a net neutrality law. more

[NaOH]

I think the quote "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." sums up how so many different people can unite behind a cause such as this. Whether someone is for or against an issue shouldn't matter. If they are convinced that their perspective is valid, they should have no fear of others airing theirs. It is only through an open and frank exchange of ideas that solutions can be found.
To my mind, only those aren't sure their argument will stand up to scrutiny have any reason to support censorship.
Censorship and propaganda is no longer just something we have to worry about governments imposing. Corporations are increasingly able to influence the information we are able to access.
This is nothing new, but I don't think freedom of speech has ever been at risk in quite the same way before. In a world where huge corporations control most of the news we hear, it's not difficult to imagine how that could be abused.
With that in mind, I find myself agreeing fully with the point of view of the supporters of this proposed law. Any legislation that supports equal access to information, regardless what the point of view expressed, is welcome. (Yes, I do realise that means I would support unpleasant attitudes being expressed as well.)

[mdawson]

Well stated. I would have never thought the day would come that I would find myself agreeing with The Christian Coalition, but here is a point on which they are absolutely in the right. While I do not agree with their, or similar faith-based organizations, agenda to impose their beliefs on the public-at-large, they are correct in that they have the right to voice their opinions. What they do not have the right to do is use the political process to impose their mores through law, but that is another matter.
We already live in a landscape where an oligarchy of corporations controls nearly all of the news and information that we can access. If we allow these communications firms to decide who gets what bandwidth, if any, are we are doing is giving in to a new form of censorship. The power that American corporations exercise over information is no different from what the Chinese government does; the corporations simply have not yet fully exercised their ability to filter, if not outright alter, the truth.
I find it ironic that a group that has traditionally attempted to replace the Constitution with another text and change this nation from a secular republic to a Christian theocracy is now relying on that same document to protect their right to voice their position.

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Yes, I do realise that means I would support unpleasant attitudes being expressed as well.

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That is the price of living in a free society. In order to enjoy the freedom to do and say as we please, we must allow others to do the same even if we do not agree with it or if it offends us. As one scholar once stated, the First Amendment does not exist to protect our right to say nice things to one another, it protects the right to say things that are provocative and should therefore force people to deal with issues. I firmly believe in the underlying motto of a free society:
You have the right to fling your fists as you wish, but your freedom ends where my nose begins.
As long as you are no doing harm to others or placing others in harms way, you have the right to do and say whatever you please. Whether or not I agree with it, is a personal matter.

[i4detail]

Of course, saying that rock stars and Christians are strange bedfellows is an odd statement when one of said rock stars is a self-professed Christian (that'd be Moby, not Stipe). A Christian with what would be considered strong left-wing views that most of the people in the CC would disagree with (and who he has had issues with in the past), but a Christian nonetheless.

[Grapho]

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I find it ironic that a group that has traditionally attempted to replace the Constitution with another text and change this nation from a secular republic to a Christian theocracy is now relying on that same document to protect their right to voice their position.

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Only because it fits their agenda.
I agree with both the first two posts. Corporations control much more then just information, they actually dictate our domestic and foreign policies. Lets face it, the land of the free has become the land of the free-markets. When news is considered a product that has to have a return on investment, what kind of reporting our we expected to get. Not only that, but every day their are fewer and fewer outlets. Just look at the number of radio stations under the Clear Channel guise. The internet is probably one of the few resources where ideas can flow freely.

[Grapho]

Do you really think if Christ cam back, he would be a Republican? /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[HiRez]

The old adage "follow the money" applies here. The telcos have more of it than anyone, and spend more of it on lobbying (read: buying legislators) than anyone. They will win this in the end. Book it!

[SeanoVox]

if you follow the money it really comes to Vonage vs Comcast or Verizon. Vonage would not want comcast to cripple their VOIP service especially if comcast offers its own VOIP service. that is really what Net Neutrality is, and am am all for that, but in a free market if ISP X blocks web sites which have views contrary to its own you can switch providers to ISP Y, and most likely that IIPS would not stay in business long. If the Christian Coalition was an ISP you and I both know that they would block access to Pro-Life Websites. Bet lets be real, NN laws should not be about censorship, but about protocols.
just my $0.02
Sean

[triplebeam]

To the reply "You can switch to another ISP" Verizon is putting in Fiber optic in the entire state of PA and others. What they aren't telling you is that once you switch to the fiber optic they cut your copper. Once they cut your copper you can't switch back or to anyone else (unless they (the other supplier) want to run the copper to your house). It's either Comcast or Verizon. Once they cut out Vonage by limited my internet (ie this bill). I will have even fewer choices. Since fiber hasn't been deregulated like copper has as well as the $$$$ Verizon has to lobby congress not to it prob. won't be anytime soon. As for "well then don't switch to Verizon" I just bought a new home and it has no copper. It took Verizon 3 months to hook up the fiber AFTER I moved in. I couldn't switch to anyone else so what was Verizons hurry? It's either Comcast or Verizon for me. I am wondering when they are going to jack up the price and limit my internet now that I have no other choices. If this bill goes though I might as well go back to the smoke signals. Putting in the Fiber is just a way for Verizon to make sure they have jobs for the next 20-30 years. Smart move for them if they can get this bill to pass.......

[SeanoVox]

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Once they cut out Vonage by limited my internet (ie this bill)

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I said that I am for Net Neutrality for this reason, but I don't think that Censorship should be a rally cry for it's Net Neutrality proponents. And there are always other options to copper and fiber, cellular and DSB for example and who knows what is around the corner for wifi. An ISP blocking protocols like VOIP (think vonage VOIP packets) would be very bad for Americans, An ISP Blocking a website that has info that the Christian Coalition, Michael Stipe, or Moby want you to see, not really a problem for the Government to deal with. and that is the problem with our Government, it starts with a simple idea for a law and by the time its passed, it has 30 amendments that have nothing to do with the original proposal.

[Nobody]

Post deleted by Jason_Snell

[jdb8167]

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Why in the world are random organizations and has-been musicians/actors coming out in favor of net neutrality? Reputable technology companies are coming out against regulation of the internet.

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The inventor the the world-wide-web is in favor of net neutrality. Good enough credentials?
Business Week: Berners-Lee Backs Neutrality

[Nobody]

Post deleted by Jason_Snell

[jdb8167]

The astroturfing is intense on this issue. It is remarkable the number of new users who are against net neutrality.