Getting something for nothing is demoralizing - and, it could be argued, often immoral. If we all get government sponsored access to broadband, then we'll have to raise enough taxes to pay for all that access. Since about half of us do not pay any taxes, this would be a clean redistribution from those who pay to those who do not.
In the process, we'll lose the input from early adapters who are willing to pay for innovations. Why pay more if the broadband freebee is good enough. Motivation to better oneself is a strong and constructive drive, from which we all benefit. Socialistic freebees are not free - they stagnate.
MM, I respect your your clarity of beliefs and your indeed refreshing honesty. I just don't agree. When we talk about the right to Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness, we talk about freedom. By the time we add a long list of additional "basics", we are already talking about an all powerful State, which giveth - and may take away - everything.
This is not for me, sir. I'd rather get my lazy butt off the couch, and go to work, and freely pay for my broadband out of my own pocket.
Remember reading somewhere many years ago how the French socialists were going to introduce "fairness" in computing. There would be one huge mainframe, and each citizen would be entitled to receive a government provided tax supported dumb terminal. That's an example of the socialistic archetype in action.... |
