A recent article in the New York Times, the most liberal of all print media, made the claim that the internet was the new divide between the rich and poor as well as the black and white.
The article claimed that while the rich rode the digital "high-speed superhighway", the poor or members of minority groups, were relegated to a bike path - dial-up or wireless connections via smartphones. The claim was made that "the new digital divide raises important questions about social equity," and that regulatory policy is the solution.
Although the article inflamed my senses in many ways, two particular points really made my blood boil. First,
there is no such thing as "social equity," nor should there be. This is America, the land of opportunity. You have the opportunity to work however long, and however hard needed to achieve the status in life that you desire. Conversely - and unfortunately, you also have the opportunity through entitlement programs to lay on your back and suck from the government teat. If you want high-speed internet, get off your back and go get a freaking job. If ones not enough, then take a second, or even a third.
As for these poor and down trodden people only have internet access via their smartphones - so what. I pay more monthly for my 3G smartphone than I do for my ultra-fast internet service through Comcast. If having high-speed internet available at home is so important, get rid of the very costly smartphone. Its called establishing priorities, and low-income persons should have to set them just as I or anyone else must.
To avoid government interference, some providers such as Comcast have already begun offering low-cost but high-speed access to "families" who receive public assistance. This is not an act of kindness or even charity. These costs are passed on to those of us who are foolish enough to get up and go to work everyday.
When will we ever learn that the chronically disadvantaged actually have more advantages than many or our hard-working citizens.
As for these poor and down trodden people only have internet access via their smartphones - so what. I pay more monthly for my 3G smartphone than I do for my ultra-fast internet service through Comcast. If having high-speed internet available at home is so important, get rid of the very costly smartphone. Its called establishing priorities, and low-income persons should have to set them just as I or anyone else must.
To avoid government interference, some providers such as Comcast have already begun offering low-cost but high-speed access to "families" who receive public assistance. This is not an act of kindness or even charity. These costs are passed on to those of us who are foolish enough to get up and go to work everyday.
When will we ever learn that the chronically disadvantaged actually have more advantages than many or our hard-working citizens.
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