So Long Neutral Net...

The title link details the likely end of a neutral net. The House of Representatives voted by a solid majority, meaning down party lines, against the Net Neutrality amendment to the COPE Act. What does this mean at this moment? Nothing, really, since we have to wait until after Congress returns to session at the end of the summer to see what the Senate does with the bill. Ultimately, it shows that the bigger businesses and monopolies control the votes in government. Good news for them, bad news for us. Realistically, there are as yet several months yet before this thing becomes law, and it's possible it may die in the interim. Until then, keep calling and writing your congressional representatives to try to get a fix started.

The article from ZDNet does point out something interesting. This is the first time in a long time that Republicans want to act like conservatives. As a libertarian, I can fully appreciate the "republican" interest in not creating more regulations for anything else. However, the social side of my social libertarian ideology dictates that the Federal government should act in the best interests of zealously defending our Constitutional rights from any private party that sees fit to diminish them. Net Neutrality is a prime example. Do we need a smaller central government that keeps its nose out of our (the citizens') business, yes, but should the government make it a point to prevent the most egregious violations of civil liberties, even by private corporations, of course. Speech rights are integral to the existence and perpetuation of the democratic process. Anyone who believes otherwise lacks faith in the operation and subsistence of the American governmental system and should not be in power. Likewise, any private group which aims to degrade the state of the market place of ideas for their own financial benefit should be chastised for their ignorance and hubris. Shame on the legislators that would allow a perversion of liberty, and shame on the corporations that support what may be the idiocy of our times, lending credence to the end of American Democracy.

As Sinclair Lewis once said "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross."