The far right, representing the interests of most of America’s wealthiest and greediest, is now wringing its hands in happy anticipation of the imminent repeal of more Obama regulations.   For whatever obnoxious reason, the FCC, which makes the rules about all mass media over the public air waves, including the internet, is not a bipartisan, non-political commission.  The sitting president seems to appoint the swing vote.     

The FCC, stewards of the public airwaves, has a Republican chairman now, Ajit Pai, talking about the importance of repealing a two year old Obama-FCC ruling that “regulates” the internet.  It regulates the internet by not allowing providers to selectively slow down or speed up access to selected websites and internet based services.  This “regulation” of enforced non-interference is called “Net Neutrality” and it means that it is currently illegal to allow, say Democracy Now!, to pay a provider for high speed streaming service bringing it to customers at ten or a hundred times the speed of, say,  FOX, who does not pay the premium.  It would allow a provider to slow or even block the content of any website that does not pay whatever toll it imposes on fast internet speed.  It is this kind of over-reaching government regulation, says Pai, that must be repealed in the name of Freedom.

Of course, Mr. Pai does not go into in any kind of detail arguing why killing Net Neutrality is a good thing, why should he?   The actual argument, mainly that those with the most money should enjoy the greatest influence over the previously free internet, would only cloud the picture, turn people against his position.  Neither would it help his argument to underscore the obvious: that it is fitting that the people with the most money get the greatest say in what information gets out to internet users, just like they get the greatest say in who makes rest of the laws, and what laws are made, here. 

Suffice it to say, says Pai, with a winning smile, I am a man in a red hat announcing that I am striking down job and competition killing, freedom hating regulations promulgated by OBAMA.  Now, you people in red hats, raise your fists and let’s hear a great “Huzzah!”   MAGA!   USA!  USA!!!!

You can hear three commies discuss the implications of this current threatened end to Net Neutrality here.

Here’s Ajit Pai himself, interviewed on PBS shortly after his appointment by Trump, announcing his plans to end net neutrality.  Characteristically churlish of me to mention that Pai was, until recently, a lawyer for corporate giant and internet provider Verizon.  Pai says he’s wants to end net neutrality to protect people in poor areas, to ensure that providers are not “disincentivized” from providing them decent internet service. 

If my cat’s litterbox could speak like a Harvard trained lawyer, this is what it might say.  Pai speaks for himself, and all internet giants here.   Have fun!   

Kudos to NYS Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for his principled, activist stand on this issue.  I will be back to kick the A.G.’s ass a little on an unrelated issue in a few days.  Assuming this website will even be accessible once Mr. Pai and Freedom Herself are done with their march for poor people’s rights.