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https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/29/15100620/congress-fcc-isp-web-browsing-privacy-fire-sale
Republicans in Congress just voted to reverse a landmark FCC privacy rule that opens the door for ISPs to sell customer data. Lawmakers provided no credible reason for this being in the interest of Americans, except for vague platitudes about "consumer choice" and "free markets," as if consumers at the mercy of their local internet monopoly are craving to have their web history quietly sold to marketers and any other third party willing to pay.
The only people who seem to want this are the people who are going to make lots of money from it. (Hint: they work for companies like Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T.) Incidentally, these people and their companies routinely give lots of money to members of Congress.
So here [below in the article] is a list of the lawmakers who voted to betray you, and how much money they received from the telecom industry in their most recent election cycle.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 27 2017, @09:54PM (1 child)
I hate the repeal of Net Neutrality as well. I do want to point out that this article is oversimplifying and intentionally misportraying the political process, though. Consider the following:
1) Some politicians really think Net Neutrality is a bad thing. Do you really think 100% of politicians all believe any policy is good or bad?
2) Some politicians don't have enough facts to judge, so will do whatever the most persuasive person says. I know 5 years ago, I had no idea of the pros and cons of Net Neutrality, and I'm a technology person. These are busy people and non-technologists.
3) Politics is a give-and-take. Some (maybe most) of these politicians may be pro-Net Neutrality, but may not be willing to go to the proverbial cross for it. When the Republican (or Democratic) Part Whip comes to you and says, "vote this way, and we'll help you get votes for your 'give money to children healthcare bill of 2018.' Vote against us, and the Republican Party is going to support a challenger against you in the 2018 primaries," a LOT of politicians will roll over for all but their most corely-held beliefs.
4) Politicians want to belong, going back to #3 above and getting stuff done, plus just human nature of not being ostracized. Why do police not turn over the "bad apples?" The same reason why Republican and Democrat politicans toe the party line so often.
It's nothing as simple as, "I got a 50k campaign contribution from Verizon, sold!"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 27 2017, @11:18PM
You're right, most often they have to do some golf lunches, private jet flights, and fancy dinners. By the end the politicos are "convinced".