NC Republicans pocket money from Time-Warner, attempt to ban munincipal ISPs

[DinoDoc]

Someone mentioned the post office.

[flash9286]

I thought MM's post is implying he thinks that the post office service should be provided by the government, but broadband networks shouldn't, if so HC's distinction doesn't seem to matter. Maybe I'm reading it wrong.

[Asher]

The post office is a special case because it is explicitly defined as a federal power in the Constitution.

So it's a special case because they thought to include it when writing the constitution centuries ago. I wonder why it never occurred to them to provide the same to internet connections? Both are methods of disseminating information.

[Hauldren Collider]

The post office being a federal power is probably an anachronism. However the right of the federal government to have authority over the internet is covered by interstate commerce rather unambiguously.

[Asher]

So what you're saying is the NC Republicans are retards.

[Berzerker]

The post office being a federal power is probably an anachronism. However the right of the federal government to have authority over the internet is covered by interstate commerce rather unambiguously.

which may allow Congress to "regulate" commerce between people in different states, but not the internet as a whole

oh ya, these pols should be standing before juries

[giblets]

Is it the purview of government to put out fires? Why don't they just use their commerce regulation powers and require that anyone who buys a home or other property also contracts someone to put out any fires?

What is so evil about a government providing a service citizens want?

[Berzerker]

making others pay for it?

[giblets]

If it's like the post office or a municipal ISP, then it's funded by the people who use it, right? And with county governments, you can easily move if you don't like the one you currently have. There's thousands of alternatives.

[Berzerker]

sure, user fees are fine

we're rural so we had to go with direct tv and sprint internet access

[The Mad Monk]

So it's a special case because they thought to include it when writing the constitution centuries ago. I wonder why it never occurred to them to provide the same to internet connections? Both are methods of disseminating information.

The Post Office predates the Constitution. It was grandfathered in.

[MrFun]

Now Republicans in North Carolina are pushing a contrary position -- robbing municipal governments of power.

Does anyone seriously still believe that Republicans stand for less government or smaller government?

[Hauldren Collider]

Uh, yes? Did you not notice that whole healthcare thing?

[Hauldren Collider]

Fun, it's very transparent to me that you really only dislike the republicans because of the part of their base that is homophobic. I respect that, but you shouldn't let that convince you that all of their policies are bad.

[Asher]

"part" of their base