Current Affairs The General Election

[catcherintherye]

Well the issue isnt owning the internet, cos no one actually does. Its controlling the delivery and support of access to it. I would prefer that to be in the hands of shareholders who have skin in the game if they fail, rather than a government of any hue who will be so tempted to use their control at some future point in time.

Also, like most, I have a collective distrust of politicians. It does not take a genius to make the connection, (sic) to having a collective customer base of millions of users as a convenient cash cow for some future fund raising.

Yes hard to agree with a lot of that. However whats to stop shareholders not milking clients? What democratic recall do people have on private shareholders? How might we vote the out etc? It's not an easy solution either way to me.

 

[roydo]

I'm just not sure we can trust private shareholders anymore.

But you would be happy to trust a far right Government having the key to all things internet?

 

[ToffeeTim]

Nationalisation is generally very bad imo.

I have nothing else to really say about it.

 

[roydo]

Yes hard to agree with a lot of that. However whats to stop shareholders not milking clients? What democratic recall do people have on private shareholders? How might we vote the out etc? It's not an easy solution either way to me.

They switch providers. I have. Leccy, Internet, LPG. Piece of cake.

 

[catcherintherye]

Agreed. Better regulatory framework for the current ownership arrangements are necessary together with much heftier penalties for infractions. I'm just uncomfortable with any kind of state ownership ( of whatever political hue) such that the Internet ends up as a tool of the state rather than an enabler for individual citizens.
Labours policy statement (at least as I understood it) rolled out broadband to everyone quickly at the public cost; infrastructure investment; Good, in exchange for state ownership ( and hence control, influence and more power; Bad imo.

Yes I do understand the philosophical underpinnings of that. I think this administration at the very least, never mind the spin of Blair before and Thatcher have shown it can be mishandled!

I suppose there is a sense though, that if the state gives the money to have it rolled out, but private companies keep control, you may get the worst of every world?

I do wonder if some sort of impartial assemblies could be set up to manage this? So it's devolved from the state?

 

[davek]

I'm not trying to, merely hypothesising that it would be bad if there were any. Do you not think so?

It depends on the nature of government. China? Of course that would be a bad example. A social democracy would have no reasons to intervene other than protecting system from malicious attack.

 

[catcherintherye]

They switch providers. I have. Leccy, Internet, LPG. Piece of cake.

Yes which is true, but from what I'm saying on this, it looks as if it will be a bit of monopoly. And what if the sector is a bit terrible all round (as many seem to be)?

 

[catcherintherye]

But you would be happy to trust a far right Government having the key to all things internet?

I'm not sure either are massively trustworthy. It's like a frying pan and a fire argument!

 

[roydo]

I suppose there is a sense though, that if the state gives the money to have it rolled out, but private companies keep control, you may get the worst of every world?

Or the best? Lets face it, the internet in the UK is pretty good. The combination of a few decades of state and private development has delivered that, and the sight of Open Work vans on every street corner atm is testament to that. It just seems a daft political fight to start.

 

[Alan Whittle]

Yes I do understand the philosophical underpinnings of that. I think this administration at the very least, never mind the spin of Blair before and Thatcher have shown it can be mishandled!

I suppose there is a sense though, that if the state gives the money to have it rolled out, but private companies keep control, you may get the worst of every world?

I do wonder if some sort of impartial assemblies could be set up to manage this? So it's devolved from the state?

To ensure free and fair access and security possibly. Obviously not content. Paid for by shareholders and government jointly? Worth exploring certainly.

 

[neil999]

I’d like to find Corbyns magic money tree

it sounds amazing

It's just behind Arlene foster

 

[roydo]

Yes which is true, but from what I'm saying on this, it looks as if it will be a bit of monopoly. And what if the sector is a bit terrible all round (as many seem to be)?

I'm not sure either are massively trustworthy. It's like a frying pan and a fire argument!

Maybe I have missed your point mate. I thought you want the Labour Party to own and control access and support of the internet in the UK.

I think its a terrible idea.

 

[Alan Whittle]

It depends on the nature of government. China? Of course that would be a bad example. A social democracy would have no reasons to intervene other than protecting system from malicious attack.

No, I agree some governments ( China, as you say, and others,) would use it as a tool of repression, and whilst Social Democratic governments would have no reasons to intervene, people, institutions and even governments, have been known to instigate that very human folly of acting without reason. Less of a risk perhaps.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

and a state free internet. Having a Government, of whatever political persuasion, owning access to the Internet, is the thin end of the wedge and should be resisted. By all means invest in infrastructure through grants, tax breaks et al but do one with ownership & control.

Theresa May won an election implying that government should filter internet by control and regulations so to manage what we all access. Its what the people wanted back then?

Thin end of wedge was a couple of years ago!

 

[The binman chronicles]

I’d like to find Corbyns magic money tree

it sounds amazing

To be fair both parties have managed to pick one up at the supermarket by the seem of it.