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Republicans Kill Popular FCC Program That Made Broadband Affordable for the Poor

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Re: Republicans Kill Popular FCC Program That Made Broadband Affordable for the Poor

#21

Post by toomuchtodo »

matthewaveryusa wrote: post #16
toomuchtodo wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is no way to ask this question here without it devolving deep into politics, but here we go. Republicans don't have policy to run on. They pander to their base, while also laughing behind their back [1]. Their base votes for them because these representatives appeal to their feelings, even though the people they vote for are actively harming them (red states are finally, begrudgingly, adopting Federal Medcaid e…

>Their base votes for them because these Reps appeal to their feelings, even though the people they vote for are actively harming them. You need to continue the logic here: So the democrats in shining white armor are here to help them out because they know better. This further antagonizes the republican base because worse than being destitute is to be dependent on government handouts. On the united states being unite…

I appreciate the assist, these are complex issues, and there are always a lot of points to unpack.

When Hillary Clinton ran for office, and said they were going to kill coal, lets see the entire quote:

> Clinton did tell a town hall audience in Columbus, Ohio in March that "we're going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business." But that was part of a longer answer about the need to help blue-collar workers adjust. "We're going to make it clear that we don't want to forget those people," Clinton said. "Those people labored in those mines for generations, losing their health, often losing their lives to turn on our lights and power our factories. Now we've got to move away from coal and all the other fossil fuels, but I don't want to move away from the people who did the best they could to produce the energy that we relied on."

These people didn't want to hear that, because of the point you mentioned. They are angry and sad at their position, and they don't want help; they want a history that no longer exists. "We're going to bring coal back!" You cannot fix deeply held identity and beliefs with policy [1]. Also, it is a long slog to convince people it is okay to ask for and receive help, even government help. Like, take the help, government is all of us helping you.

[1] To be frank, I don't think you can fix identity and deeply held beliefs except through generational turnover and firewalls through boundaries, but I am open to citations if anyone can provide them.

Re: Republicans Kill Popular FCC Program That Made Broadband Affordable for the Poor

#22

Post by nimbius »

hilbert42 wrote: post #2

I don't live in the US although I've been there many times and I've even worked there at times yet I still cannot understand why the country is deliberately tearing itself apart on matters like this. If you want to alienate one section of one's community then this is a surefire way of doing it. Why is it that Republicans so despise and revile the poorer sections of their community? Don't they realize the actual damag…

class war is nothing new. elites generally alienate and isolate the poor, as their interests seldom converge and are often opposed.

Part of the reason is also a cope. That the nature of wealth under late-stage neoliberal capitalism exacerbates to such a prolific extent poverty, strife, homelessness and other maladies of the impoverished is a very distressing concern. For quite some time wealthy elites have coddled themselves with the tutelage that "poor people are poor because they are lazy." Television, radio, and internet all have elite points of presence to reinforce this propaganda in various consumable forms. Recognizing and reacting to wealth disparity in the west with anything more than a casual nod could lead to the wholesale downfall of the neoliberal castle that so many elites have build over the past forty years.

"kill all the poors" policy in the words of the venerable Mitchell and Webb show is largely a regression to feudalism from whence capitalism came. its the manifestation of an acute overdose of capitalist elites "copium." a cut on the nose to spite the face if you will.

Re: Republicans Kill Popular FCC Program That Made Broadband Affordable for the Poor

#23

Post by toomuchtodo »

MR4D wrote: post #20
toomuchtodo wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is no way to ask this question here without it devolving deep into politics, but here we go. Republicans don't have policy to run on. They pander to their base, while also laughing behind their back [1]. Their base votes for them because these representatives appeal to their feelings, even though the people they vote for are actively harming them (red states are finally, begrudgingly, adopting Federal Medcaid e…

A few corrections: 1 - Congress makes laws, not the President (although he signs them). 2 - Congressional members are elected directly, not by the electoral college. 3 - The electoral college is not impacted by whether people are rural or urban. [0] States can always choose to apply subsidies themselves. They all have different tax rates already [1], so subsidies are easy if they want [1]. [0] - https://www.270towin.…

Thank you! I have made edits to correct and refine the idea I was attempting to communicate.

Re: Republicans Kill Popular FCC Program That Made Broadband Affordable for the Poor

#24

Post by silent_cal »

sjsdaiuasgdia wrote: post #18
silent_cal wrote: post #8

This program was not for the "poor". I know because I got this discount, and I do not need it at all.

A program can be intended to help the poor and also create situations where people who have less need / no heed for help might be included. The world is complicated and sometimes it's easier and cheaper to allow this versus the kind of investigation, data analysis, and administrative overhead needed to more accurately target the benefit.

My family is at least 4x the poverty level income.

Re: Republicans Kill Popular FCC Program That Made Broadband Affordable for the Poor

#26

Post by hazmazlaz »

silent_cal wrote: post #24
sjsdaiuasgdia wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A program can be intended to help the poor and also create situations where people who have less need / no heed for help might be included. The world is complicated and sometimes it's easier and cheaper to allow this versus the kind of investigation, data analysis, and administrative overhead needed to more accurately target the benefit.

My family is at least 4x the poverty level income.

If you're in the US, this is still relatively poor. Not to be insulting to your family at all, just my opinion that the official Poverty Level criteria is ridiculous compared to actual cost of living in most places in the US.

Re: Republicans Kill Popular FCC Program That Made Broadband Affordable for the Poor

#27

Post by shadowfiend »

silent_cal wrote: post #24
sjsdaiuasgdia wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A program can be intended to help the poor and also create situations where people who have less need / no heed for help might be included. The world is complicated and sometimes it's easier and cheaper to allow this versus the kind of investigation, data analysis, and administrative overhead needed to more accurately target the benefit.

My family is at least 4x the poverty level income.

Just to make sure I understand—you're saying that because your family, which is 4x the poverty level income, got this discount, and did not need it, you believe that this program did not help people under the poverty line?

Or is it that because your family, which is 4x the poverty level income, got this discount, and did not need it, you believe this program was not meant to help people under the poverty line?

Which is to say, can you make your point more precisely?

Re: Republicans Kill Popular FCC Program That Made Broadband Affordable for the Poor

#28

Post by soupfordummies »

pram wrote: post #25

It seems like with all the many billions that have been spent on various rural/universal access/subsidy schemes over the past decades we literally could have run fiber to every building in the United States by now lol

But that wouldn't have allowed Comcast and AT&T to continue their duopoly dance to the tune of record profits as easily.

It's honestly past time to start regulating Internet as a public utility. Look at the municipalities that have public Internet (Chattanooga, TN is the big one here but there are others) and the speed, quality and customer satisfaction is through the roof.

Re: Republicans Kill Popular FCC Program That Made Broadband Affordable for the Poor

#29

Post by beardyw »

silent_cal wrote: post #24
sjsdaiuasgdia wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A program can be intended to help the poor and also create situations where people who have less need / no heed for help might be included. The world is complicated and sometimes it's easier and cheaper to allow this versus the kind of investigation, data analysis, and administrative overhead needed to more accurately target the benefit.

My family is at least 4x the poverty level income.

Yes, you don't understand. We get it.

Re: Republicans Kill Popular FCC Program That Made Broadband Affordable for the Poor

#30

Post by soupfordummies »

richwater wrote: post #12

More often than not, state and local government regulatory capture/government approved monopolies affect broadband availability way more than corporate interest.

Comcast is literally the only option at my complex.

Apparently Google Fiber is available but the steps to get it installed require a lot of sign-off from entities that aren't available or don't care.

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