Their Orwellian “net neutrality” project having been thwarted by the courts, our masters inside the Beltway are now trying to get control of the internet by surreptitiously slipping a provision into their “finance reform” legislation:
The Federal Trade Commission could become a more powerful watchdog for Internet users under a little-known provision in financial overhaul legislation that would expand the agency’s ability to create rules.
Yep. That’s what I said:
The version of regulatory overhaul legislation passed by the House would allow the FTC to issue rules on a fast track and permit the agency to impose civil penalties …
As a blogger and frequent user of the internet, I’m even less sanguine about FTC regulation of the web than I was about giving such power to the FCC. And I’m not alone in my concern about the intentions of the Dems:
The proposal to expand the FTC’s authority has sparked a flurry of lobbying by advertisers, industry groups and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which are seeking to block it citing concerns about possible overreach by the agency.
Possible overreach? How about guaranteed overreach? That is the only possible goal of this provision. As Ed Morrissey points out, the internet had absolutely nothing to do with the financial mess that this bill allegedly addresses:
Neither the FTC nor the Internet had anything to do with the Wall Street meltdown in 2008 … Why does the FTC need any further authority over the Internet, where fraud and abuse regulations apply already?
Answer: Because the Dems want to grab as much power as they can grab, regardless of the justification. It was the true motive behind the “porkulus” bill. It was the true motive behind Obamacare. And it is the true motive behind this.
We need to get rid of these people. They are dangerous.
Comments 3
So… Who drew up the Patriot Act?
Posted 01 May 2010 at 2:30 pm ¶I’m revising Marc Brown’s resume:
Marc Brown:
BS from Fallacy U w/ a specialization in Non Sequitur and Tu Quoque.
Posted 01 May 2010 at 6:38 pm ¶Sorry, but Catron is constantly moaning about nanny state intrusion by the Democrats, but arguably the most intrusive measures were brought in by his beloved Bush and co.
And from what I can see this Internet measure is about consumer protection and nothing to do with ‘control of the internet’.
Posted 02 May 2010 at 5:40 am ¶You conspiracy people tend to see boogiemen everywhere - I expect you think, as Rush Limbaugh has hinted, that the government blew up that oil rig to impose tougher environmental rules. What we need is less oil regulation now of course - makes perfect sense doesn’t it.
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