House Panel Backs 'Internet Freedom' Legislation 87
GovTechGuy writes "The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed legislation on Wednesday once again affirming the current management structure of the Web. In doing so, the lawmakers made one thing clear: the only government that should have its hands on the underpinnings of the Internet is the U.S. ' It affirms the importance of an Internet free from censorship and government control and codifies the existing management structure of the Internet. ... Notably, however, lawmakers dropped from the legislation the phrase “free from government control,” which had threatened to derail the April 11 markup by the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. ... [Democrats argued] it could undermine the U.S. government’s ability to enforce existing — or future — laws online.'"
Re:Internet freedom legislation (Score:3, Insightful)
And they say Americans dont get irony.
Boy you got that right....
From the story
the only government that should have its hands on the underpinnings of the Internet is the U.S.
I could name a dozen countries I would trust to manage the web more than the U.S.
Re:The House? (Score:5, Insightful)
That sounds like the democrats too. They put on a big show together of fighting over things, but on most issues they are really very similar. Just find me any recent act passed by congress in which they gave up any significant amount of power.
Even when the parties aren't screwing the people over, there are lobbyists to make sure they do. Look at healthcare reform, for example: It started out as a well-intentioned plan to set up a minimal level of universal health care. By the time the lobbyists from the insurance industry were done, all it did was compel everyone to have an insurance policy and hand out mountains of money in subsidies. Not even subsidies to directly pay for medical care, but subsidies to private insurance companies.
I agree that the Republicans are, on balance, worse than the democrats... but that just means the democrats are less bad.
Re:The House? (Score:2, Insightful)
The reason that the Republicans rule the House is simple. When Pelosi and her cronies ruled they stunk it up so much anything at all seemed better. The way the Democrats ran amuck with control of both Houses of Congress and the Presidency ignored one simple political reality, that elections come every 2 years. For 2 years they acted like it was all about them ignoring and ridiculing an electorate that still leans slightly to the right overall. I can't believe the ignorant fuckers didn't see the backlash coming. If the Republicans could ever pull their heads out of their asses for a minute or two the Senate would fall too. I don't see them doing it though. Maybe they'll get some glass belly buttons though, at least then they can see where they're going.
Re:Internet freedom legislation (Score:4, Insightful)
Actually the UN would be perfect. When was the last time they actually accomplished anything? Pretty much every motion they ever make is vetoed. It's perfect, put the Internet under the control of an entity so dysfunctional that they simply can't get their act together to mess it up.
I would trust the UN over the USA to run the internet any day.