That happens already. There are many articles about the banning of conservative voices on Twitter and the elimination of "fake" news (as defined by Facebook/Google) from different feeds and the demonitization of Youtube with suspected political motivations.It's NOT just a "who's in charge of the internet". That's not a very accurate depiction at all of the big picture imo. Things like, for example, Comcast decides not to limit speeds of web pages, but decides since they are supporting/$$ backing the "Next Fuckwad for President" and either charge much higher rates for those who support other choices, but also REFUSE to carry/allow access to the content at all.
At some point, the market settles. Free stuff for some is not the best way to allocate resources.What if Amazon raises prices because they have to pay all these ISPs more money now because some are owned by conglomerates who also own retail stores?
That issue was true long before the net neutrality fight. Removing the backbone from being a utility should open competition. How many places do you buy your water from? Your electricity? If you want a limited, monopolistic system of IS providers (), net neutrality almost guarantees it.Who wants less choice in the already shitty, sometimes monopolistic, choices of choosing Ian ISP provider?
If you're in areas that you have choices and thus competition amongst providers, good for ya'll. But much of the US does not.
The current American administration is definitely not working for the average American households. First you a a tax reform bill they benefits the wealthy (I am not complaining as my stocks have been soaring), and now this net neutrality BS. This allows internet providers to charge whatever they want based on your internet traffic towards different sites and usage.
1. We might also say, tax reform benefits the ones who pay taxes.
2. The ISP's cannot charge "whatever they want". The law of supply and demand is a natural law and Congress or the FCC don't have the power or ability to repeal market forces.
No one really knows in any way other than in some statistical-theory kind of way. The bill is not finished. Any numbers like the ones above are making many assumptions. Assumptions, I'm sure, that are not designed to further other goals.Yes, tax reform helps those who pays taxes... however the benefits fall mostly on the wealthy. So IMHO it would seem like a regressive tax reform. "Ninety percent of the top 1 percent -- those earning about $900,000 and above in 2027 -- would get a tax cut, averaging $234,050." and "middle-income households (those earning $50,000 to $90,000 a year) would receive a tax break on average of $660" -CNN.
No, they can't. I take that back, they CAN set any price they want. As to if they get it is another matter. For instance, I think we would agree that the price of marijuana is not left up to the DEA and Congress. If your local dispensary suddenly decided to "set" the price of mid-shelf at $200 1/8, what do you think the demand will be? I suspect that if they follow a similar pricing scheme on all their product, they'll find their sales to be about zero. There are lots of places to buy. Absent a monopoly, the market forces will crush the guy who prices inappropriately. (If Snoop were to recommend that mid-shelf, I bet the guy might sell some. But then we get into perceived value. A sneaker is a sneaker but a Jordan is...whatever the buyer thinks it is.)Actually in a competitive free market the Law of Supply and Demand left unregulated, companies can set a price equal to marginal revenue = marginal cost (profit max rule). It is left to the FCC and Congress to make sure that this doesn't happen... this is where the trouble lies.
No one really knows in any way other than in some statistical-theory kind of way. The bill is not finished. Any numbers like the ones above are making many assumptions. Assumptions, I'm sure, that are not designed to further other goals.
I deal with taxes in my life. It's kinda like my job and I have lots of people calling me wondering how to restructure their finances to take advantage or to prevent the harm from the bill. For me personally, this bill is probably going to be a killer. Because of my particular circumstances, some OTHER assumptions by people (Again, perhaps with an agenda.) on the home mortgage and SALT (state and local tax) deductions, I might lose about $150K in property values the moment it passes. I'd also have to hold on to my current house for 4 more years to be able to sell it using the homeowner exclusion to capital gains AND, I'll be eating about 15K a year in deductions that disappear because I live in a high tax/high property value state. (At least as the media reports the bill as of now.)
The tax bill screws me. I still support it. Even though I'm not in the top 1%. Not even close.
The tax system is a mess. There are tons of manipulations and controls in it that have nothing to do with raising revenue. People spend more money on tax planning than on making the income the taxes cover. It is a huge drag on the economy. I am reminded of a favorite quote of people who make their living as I do:
There are two systems of taxation in our country: one for the informed and one for the uninformed.
---Judge Learned Hand
Which portion of the population is going to be "informed" on tax issues, higher income or lesser? The supposed reductions for the top percentages assume they have not already taken advantage of the interstices of the law. Also, while a valid argument can be made as to if this progressive/regressive, that is hardly a measure about how good a reform is. Some might claim taxes should be spread as wide as possible rather than paid by a few. There are a number of reasons for this like smoothness of government revenue when the base is larger and a "buy-in" from all for any government action.
No, they can't. I take that back, they CAN set any price they want. As to if they get it is another matter. For instance, I think we would agree that the price of marijuana is not left up to the DEA and Congress. If your local dispensary suddenly decided to "set" the price of mid-shelf at $200 1/8, what do you think the demand will be? I suspect that if they follow a similar pricing scheme on all their product, they'll find their sales to be about zero. There are lots of places to buy. Absent a monopoly, the market forces will crush the guy who prices inappropriately. (If Snoop were to recommend that mid-shelf, I bet the guy might sell some. But then we get into perceived value. A sneaker is a sneaker but a Jordan is...whatever the buyer thinks it is.)