The European open internet is under imminent threat

[ocp]

http://www.blackouteurope.eu/

"The internet as we know it is at risk because of proposed new EU rules going through end of April. Under the proposed new rules, broadband providers will be legally able to limit the number of websites you can look
at, and to tell you whether or not you are allowed to use particular services. It will be dressed up as ‘new consumer options' which people can choose from. People will be offered TV-like packages - with a limited
number of options for you to access."

[ocp]

The siege is tightening:

"People in the UK who go online and illegally download music and films may have their internet access cut under plans the government is considering."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7240234.stm

"French lawmakers have passed an amended version of the Hadopi legislation that calls for persistent file-sharers to be cut off from the internet."

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/0,1000000097,39753515,00.htm

[nobody]

Ye gods! Love of money really does make one quite stupid.

There are ways in which the "western" world outside the US gives me hope, and other ways in which it disturbs me. To my knowledge, such legislation is not being openly considered by the US gov't (though I'm sure there are lots of wingnuts who would love to have it).

To those who want to control everyone and everything around them, I'm tempted to say "Go ahead. Someday something will snap, as will your neck, when the people have had enough of your bullshit fascist little regime and decide death is preferable to slavery".

*sigh*

When will humanity evolve out of the cycle of new gov't formation -> loss of freedom -> uprising -> new gov't formation? Talk about a futile game.

People need to start doing what they will with their own lives regardless of what someone they probably did not vote for, have never met and never will, and who has no interest whatsoever in their welfare, does or says. It is folly to give control of your life over to rude strangers.

Terror and oppression usually comes in the guise of convenience and safety. Lately, this guise is almost transparent. The only step left for these totalitarian elitists to take is to brazenly state their barbaric intentions, all pretenses aside. Are the people still going to suck it up then?

"Boxes of internet accessibility"? Boxes are for moving and storage, not living in.

People have to stop being afraid. When you let fear motivate you, someone will step in and take advantage of you. In the current state of human nature, this is a given. Act as you will, or act in fear. You take a chance either way, but in the latter, you are guaranteed to lose. Usually badly.

"The excuse is to promote competition". Bah. What has competition gained society that cooperation could have done better? Closed systems. Limited access. Greed and giant egos. Humbug.

There is little common ground between what is legal and what is right. The law does not long remain the will of the people, much less what is right.

For those of you who aren't familiar with it, internet relay services (IP relay) is a telephone service with a call assistant who relays between someone who uses a text interface, and someone on a voice phone. Usually for people with hearing impairments, although mute disorders find this useful as well. I use such services due to a hearing loss. The FCC in the US now wants anyone using these services to register with a provider of their choice, using their home address and given by the service a regular telephone number that can be used on these services. On the surface, most people will wonder what the big deal is. Well, the big deal is that I don't see any valid reason to require such registration other than a totalitarian desire to know at all times who is doing what. These services have been run for quite a few years now - including telephone based relay/TTY services before the internet - without anyone having to register their name and home address. It is simply not necessary to operate these services. Oh, the FCC might spew reasons such as interoperability with 911 systems so they can find you if you call 911 - but these are arguments you can poke several very large holes in.

I find that as things get wound up around the axis of fascism, korporation, and regime control, I simply stop using them. I don't have any subscription TV service and never will under the current state of media affairs. Should the internet end up a big brother tool, I will miss it greatly, but I will not play along. I know what my needs and wants are and the difference between my NEEDS and my WANTS. I have actually had the gov't fuck with my needs, and I did not sit on my hands. I went after them with a vengeance, and with a little help from one of the few people I've ever known in gov't who care about real things, won.

Anyway, I believe I have ranted quite enough for now!