So I wrote an email to my congressmen. Here it is
this is an email I just sent to Representative Kennedy and Kerr. All hyperlinks are in brackets [],m with the links to the sites I was referencing at the bottom of the comment.
[A recent news article from the NY Times that has me worried.]
So some background information on me. I've never written a senator, Representative, or really any congressmen ever. I've only voted through mail in ballots, and typically spend only that day where I go through my ballot learning about all of you and your policy stances. I consider myself an Independent that has left leanings. and i'm an avid internet denizen, and use internet services to stay in constant contact with my friend and acquaintances across the world. I'm currently preparing to join the military, and I plan on perhaps going into politics after learning the necessary skills while in the service. I'm also just a slightly over weight white male sitting in his dark room in his parent's house. Every great leader has their humble beginnings I suppose.
While I know you both aren't dedicated to the same field, this man's policy and assignment brings me great concern. Net Neutrality I feel is the cornerstone to the future of international competitiveness with other nations, as the Internet is the last bastion for true free exchange of information and competition that does not rely on money to get anything done, instead being driven by novel ideas and true originality. [Currently Internet Service Providers have monopolies all across the country, monopolies that are technically illegal.] While John Oliver is hardly the best source, he does put it succinctly and plainly enough that I feel its reliable enough.
Now I've taken a class for micro economics, and I have a base understanding of the many difficulties and complexities in the modern day markets, in that same class I also got a good inkling of how big business work. They don't care about the consumer, or at least are so big and bumbling that you can't count on them caring, if it would make sure they got their employees paychecks and allowed them to get a leg up on their competitors they'd personally drown a bag of puppies or even kill a man a day if that would guaranteed it. Because businesses are business first, they're their investors first, they aren't CONSUMER first. They aren't your mom and pop store down on 5th and Manse Avenue where you've known the owners since you were in college, and occasionally go in and get a coffee with them. They're the big Lovecraftian amorphous blob of power and hunger that only wants more money and to stay relevant in today's global market, so they're like the 20th century World War 1 great powers, uncaring of the "little guys". And Net Neutrality protects not only independent small businesses, but consumers first.
[I should point you out to this Business insider infographic that demonstrates what will happen to the internet if its deregulated.]
Trump complains about the "Dishonest media" one should first see who owns the media to see why its so "Dishonest". You will notice in that info graphic on the link, that the last three companies, Viacom, Time Warner, and CBS, are Internet Service Providers.
Have you ever heard of the term, ["Knowledge is power? hide it well."]
Well with the power to control the fastest form of communication, I fear that we will give these organization, control over the news media, control over the internet, and control over large segments of media and advertising, meaning they'd be the gatekeepers, the controllers, of all information in the nation. The only major competitor, the government, would need to make sure these organizations would still respect the rights of the consumer, you can either do that now and keep the internet free and regulated for everyone, and leave the price for the monopolizing ISPs as the price of controlling a monopoly, or you can have a multitude of legal and commercial headache in a decade or two, that will cost the country billions, and may even cause another crash in the economy. Now I've already given you all like 10 minute of reading, and a 15 minute video, [but I'm going to link you to yet ANOTHER video] (about 40 minutes long) about the game Deus Ex, (Perhaps one of the most influential video games in modern day history) because I agree with the commentator (Ross Scot, writer, and voice talent behind Freeman's Mind). I mean, even if this is just going to be read by some intern or secretary, at least I'm giving you an excuse to eat lunch while watching a humorous video with the justification you're doing work (If you happen to be doing just that, please remove this last sentence when you pass this along 😊
.
Watch the video? Good, then you know where I'm coming from and the fears that I have on the matter. Now I don't claim to be an expert, nor a well informed amateur. I'm your average american citizen in his early 20s, and to be frank, I'm terrified of a lot of things. The economy, life, my future both economic and social, and for my country and its continued standing in the world stage. But I can hide my fears for the benefits of my friends and family, trust in my representatives to do the right thing, [and hope for the best.]
I don't know what else to say. Maybe I missed something? Maybe I didn't. But I would love to continue the conversation, and perhaps talk about future issues.
With Regards
Alexander Lloyd Johnson
Colorado State Citizen
I hope those hyperlinks work, otherwise this email will be a lot less impactful.
In case they don't in order:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/05/technology/trumps-fcc-quickly-targets-net-neutrality-rules.html?_r=0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpbOEoRrHyU
http://www.businessinsider.com/these-6-corporations-control-90-of-the-media-in-america-2012-6
https://youtu.be/rf_3ZTp4eG4?t=19s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxOKEsBx4NU
https://youtu.be/rf_3ZTp4eG4?t=15s
