I'd like to clarify my opinion on the recent net neutrality victory. Despite some concerns, I do consider this a very good thing. In my previous post, I simply wanted to put on the radar that just because the FCC has sided with the people, it does not mean that the battle is over with. We must now make sure the FCC does what we asked them to do.
Over one year ago, when I became involved in the net neutrality debate, prospects seemed grim. Despite successful uprisings like the one against SOPA and PIPA, I admit that I did not expect that the people would win this time around. Corporations like Google, Facebook, and Netflix had not yet made apparent their stand, and it looked like it was the common man versus the wealthy ISP conglomerates. Nobody wanted the internet interfered with, even if they did not know there was a plot in the works yet. But it was not until president Obama addressed the issue and took a stand, urging the FCC to adopt 'the strongest possible net neutrality laws', that most Americans became fully aware of what was happening. This is the greatest thing that Obama has ever done, in my opinion. He may be able to salvage his legacy based on this one accomplishment alone. I do mean it when I say: Well done, Mr President.
In the following days, millions of pubic comments were filed with the FCC, and we even managed to overload and crash their servers once or twice because so many people took action. Ted Cruz even stepped into the debate, surprising nobody when he took the opposite stance, calling the situation "Obamcare for the internet." Whatever, America will never have a shortage of bigot idiots and a lack of empathy, and to Ted's credit, he did manage to give the story more press. He also managed to turn his ignorant hardliner-republican view into political poison with his remark. That's the only credit I will ever give that guy, for anything.
I am truly happy that so many became involved, and the net neutrality victory has restored some of my faith in our legal system. It is always a relief when the peoples will is respected.
Despite my paranoid nature and cynical views of government intention, I do believe that government is a necessary force at times. Under-regulated multi-billion dollar industries have wrecked havoc on the peoples of the Earth before, most recently and notably in the years preceding the stock market crash of 2008. The ISP business certainty appears to be another entity that needs oversight. Until this epic battle for the net, I absolutely detested the Federal Government, and never wanted anything from them except to go away and let the states do what they want. US drug policy, both domestic and abroad would be my first reason for the distrust and contempt I hold toward that institution. Foreign policy and the American war machine are two others.
But the battle is not over yet. It will never end. Freedom requires pro-activity and vigilance to infinity. Government does have a tendency to destroy whatever it touches, and this can only be mitigated by pressure from the people whom they work for. After all, we are the ones who put them where they are. We are also the ones who decide if they will stay in power. So question everything.
We all deserve some celebration, let's just not forget that freedom requires indefinate effort to maintain. There will always be those whom wish to take your freedom away for profit. So good job America, now stay vigilant!
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