Kerfuffle

Whose side are the Republicans on? Well, pretty much not yours...

Glad to see the DNC is finally growing a pair when it comes to reminding people who the GOP really works for.

Known tech expert John McCain wants your Internet bill to look like your cable TV bill

The Republicans are ever so skilled at mis-branding (some would same lying about) things so their sheeple will side against something that is actually in their best interest.  The latest shameful effort is John McCain's "Internet Freedom Act."  As in "freedom for the Internet service providers to esentially create tiers of service, and then charge accordingly."

From PC World via Reuters...

McCain's bill, the Internet Freedom Act, seeks to do the opposite of what its name implies by ensuring that broadband and wireless providers can discriminate and throttle certain traffic while giving preferential treatment to other traffic. Basically, those in power or those who pay more will have better access. Apparently we have different definitions of 'freedom'.

According to the text of the McCain bill, the FCC "shall not propose, promulgate, or issue any regulations regarding the Internet or IP-enabled services." Isn't that what the FCC does? Isn't that sort of like introducing a bill to prohibit the Treasury from printing money, or a bill to prohibit the IRS from collecting taxes?

This bill comes from a man who proudly claimed he is neither a PC or a Mac when asked about his computer preference during the campaign.  He's more or less a self-admitted computer Luddite.  Great.  But it's not like he's completely without some perspective.  He is on the receiving end of more tel-com lobbyist cash than any other senator, and more than double the next closest recipient.  This from the guy who was supposedly all about campaign finance reform.  Tell me you aren't surprised this guy is all about the money.  Maverick, my ass.

Consider what might happen in the marketplace if the big tel-coms are allowed to play favorites with content.  For example, if you have Time-Warner as your ISP -- the same Time-Warner that owns CNN -- how will you feel when they speed up any CNN video feeds and slow to a crawl video from MSNBC and FNC?  Or if Comcast gts their wish and buys NBC Universal, it will be the NBC comedies that come down the Internet autobahn, and the ABC videos that get the dial-up speed dirt road.

In a worst-case scenario, Gizmodo suggests this unfortunate promotional piece from your ISP...

John McCain's Internet Freedom Act is another attempt by Republicans to reward big corporate donors with laws that enrich stockholders and screw consumers.  And these same Republicans count on the electorate being stupid enough to believe the "freedom" in the bill's name means this is a good thing for citizens.  No shame, these Republicans.

Come on, Americans! Stop thinking about each other's well-being and give the Big Insurance companies some love

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell