http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2008/12/01/_porn_free_internet_for_all Comments On: (Porn-)Free Internet for All? by Paul Constant en-us Copyright 2009 The Stranger. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, The Stranger readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact The Stranger. webmaster@thestranger.com (The Stranger Webmaster) Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:01 -0800 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:45:00 -0800 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss
There are ways to make internet access more affordable and easier to aqcuire. In portland, for example, there is a new internet technology that gives consumers access throughout the city through one routing device (www.clear.com/?utm_source=bc). Something like this would make internet more convenient, which I think should be the main goal for people like Obama and those in the FCC.

Posted by Erin]]> Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:23:50 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Matthew]]> Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:38:24 -0800 The Stranger Does cam4.com count as porn?
Posted by cam4 addict]]> Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:10:09 -0800 The Stranger Posted by michael strangeways]]> Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:49:39 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Christin]]> Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:03:20 -0800 The Stranger Posted by east coaster]]> Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:17:00 -0800 The Stranger Posted by I pay for my internets]]> Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:13:10 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Will Radik]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:51:23 -0800 The Stranger
As some commenters have already stated, the poor and homeless can't afford computers, so free internet does them no good. Those who can afford a personal computer can surely afford faster and more reliable internet than this service could provide, so it does them no good.

So, in a time when the federal government is spending hundreds of billions of dollars trying to bailout our failing financial sector, the FCC wants to spend hundreds of billions more to provide a shitty internet service NO ONE WILL USE. All just to stamp out SECKS on the internet. SECKS! Dirty SECKS!

Think about that. The FCC is willing to drive our country into bankruptcy just to get rid of internet porn.

Posted by Brandon J.]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:12:36 -0800 The Stranger
Porn is just another banner under which to commit heinous crimes against our civil liberties, like "Terrorism" and "Drugs".

This is another frankly brilliant move by the far-right-wing Republicans, co-opting a half-baked progressive concept in order to foist their authoritarian values onto all of us.
Posted by highland]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:20:59 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Hugh Hefner]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:18:20 -0800 The Stranger
If you really want to help poor people get access to the internets, throw more money at free access in libraries.

Oh, and fuck the whole censorship thing. Completely lame, unenforceable, and unworkable.
Posted by Reverse Polarity]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:59:23 -0800 The Stranger
Don't trust anti-government Republican Socialists to ever do a capable job - EVER.
Posted by Will in Seattle]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:51:18 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Vince]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:12:03 -0800 The Stranger
I think I know the answer.
Posted by Dawgson]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:39:31 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Andy Niable]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:36:54 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Don't you think he looks tired?]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:34:20 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Paul F]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:29:15 -0800 The Stranger
1. Internet access is not a classic public good. There is no clear positive externality (how does it help me if you can use Wikipedia to settle your bet?) The cost in not uncapturable (it's no problem to meter and bill someone for their bandwidth use).

2. It's a wealth transfer from poor to rich. The poor's taxes will contribute, but it's the upper-middle class hanging around Starbucks with their wireless laptops.

3. It's a classic case of crowding out. There is already a large, competitive, and successful private market in internet access that would be destroyed by its public replacement.

4. It's not about "jobs, jobs, jobs". The labor-to-capital ratio for the internet access industry has got to be among the lowest of any industry you can think of.

5. It will result in endless civil liberties problems, because the great mass of Americans hate the idea of subsidzing "pornographers and terrorists" and politicians will react to that.
Posted by David Wright]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:25:52 -0800 The Stranger Posted by N]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:25:08 -0800 The Stranger
Quit being such a fucking PC Pussy.
Posted by ecce homo]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:20:57 -0800 The Stranger Is it really that bad?
Posted by ams]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:20:19 -0800 The Stranger No longer will my eyes be assaulted by harlots not wearing burqas!
Posted by tiktok]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:18:49 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Paul Constant]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:12:43 -0800 The Stranger
sincerely,
diggum
Posted by diggum]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:10:55 -0800 The Stranger