OK, help me on this one. I can't talk to stupid about the Internet(s)

[whatsthebuzz]

The right wing thinks that Obama is out to seek domination of the Internet. They (who I've talked to) say that it shows he's a dictator, but at the same time they say that the US should "own" the entire Internet because we developed it. That we "gave" the Internet to the world, but it's still ours. So why criticize Obama if he's doing what they feel is right??

The discussion went downhill when the person accused me of watching MSNBC because I was critical of the wording of the FoxNews document. (This was on Facebook or I would gladly provide a link.) Strangely went on to criticize Obama for starting the bailouts for Wall St., but I digress.

What is the true story behind this Internet thing? I apologize for not reading anything other than the "FauxNooz" link I was given. Probably still on their site somewhere.

[SpiralHawk]

1. "Screw the crybaby Teabagsters. It's my Internet. They gave it to me." - President Al Gore

"Those whiney asshat republicon FAIL Freaks stole the pResidency from me for their Champion Chickenhawks AWOL Bush and Five-Deferments Cheney (Faux Lesbian Borrow & Spend 'Conservatives'), and they have ceaselessly 'claimed' that I said I invented the Internet. Well, ok. If that's what they claim, I claim it, too. It's my freakkin Internet, and I don't want no steenkin whackdoodle Chickenhawk Republicon TeaBaggsters polluting it with their so-called 'ideas.' So here's my plan for them: STFU."

- President Al Gore (Honorable Veteran & American Citizen)

[Tailormyst]

4. ~snort~

:spray:
:rofl:

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. The US controls the root server and is steadfastly refusing UN like oversight

Part of that is good, part of that is bad.

[whatsthebuzz]

11. I'll agree 100% with you. n/m

[Jamastiene]

3. I don't think Obama has stepped in yet on this one.

Basically, the internet started with the U.S. Department of Defense back during the cold war. They began letting universities use it, then they let some businesses use it. Then, Al Gore pushed to make it available to everyone (to the public). So, in the early 90s it became available to the public and the rest is, as they say, history.

Net neutrality is basically saying that if you and I and some business with a web site pay the same price for internet service then we should all be able to access each other the same.

Net neutrality would keep ISPs from limiting access to a web site like YouTube, that requires a large data transfer to watch videos.

This ruling will make it so ISPs like, ahem, Comcast can charge Google or YouTube before letting its customers access their sites.

What that means is that they will begin packaging internet service like cable channels where you pay more to access certain sites than you do others. YouTube and Google will be like the HBO and Cinemax of the internet. You'll have to pay more to get them and they may not be offered in all locations. Hence, no more net neutrality. It's a bad thing.

Because of this ruling, eventually, the internet is going to be zillions of web sites and nothing on just like cable, because not everyone will have access to everything like it is now. RIP Porn access (for those of us in prudish red and purple states).

So, I have no clue whatsoever what the right wingers you are arguing with are trying to claim. It sounds like a bunch of convoluted bullshit. Obama doesn't have jack to do with this one. It's between Comcast, the FCC, and the courts.



Edited: Freaking typos. Sorry.

[whatsthebuzz]

9. You hit it perfectly

I knew that this was an issue not up to Obama himself, but up to the FCC/courts/etc. But I can't get these freaks to understand that Obama doesn't control the Internet. He can't wave a magic wand, just as he sadly can't wave the same wand and make FoxNews go away. (OK, that's different.)

But I thank you for your informative post. Opened me up and loaded me for what I will say to this right-wing nut. (Who I don't even know--it is a random person on Facebook who is friends with a good, non-political friend of mine since childhood.)

[sinkingfeeling]

5. I don't think the US single-handedly invented the Internet. There was a lot of help from places like

CERN and Canada.

http://www.walthowe.com/navnet/history.html

What are you discussing the proposed Senate bill that would give the President the ability to disconnect private computers from the internet during a cyber attack? Or 'net neutrality'?

[whatsthebuzz]

10. Was referring to Net Neutrality. n/t

[MicaelS]

6. Ok, here goes...

Cable companies don't want to be just "dumb pipes", that is just selling you bandwidth to do what you want. That's a race to the bottom, to who can sell bandwidth cheaper, and they will "lose" money. In other words their market share will not increase. They want to charge you PREMIUM fees to go to THEIR movie / music / video / social networking 'sites. They want to achieve this by SLOWING down You Tube, Hulu, Facebook, etc, so they load much slower than their 'sites.

[FedUpAmerican]

7. Teabaggers Are Closet republicans

Their entire strategy is to deflect and obscure facts and REAL issues.

America NEEDS to remember this at the election booth.

YES WE NEED TO GET OUT AND VOTE!

[Tunkamerica]

8. This graphic is the perfect response

http://www.collegehumor.com/article:1803025