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Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt today said it was a “mistake” to support the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a group that has said human-created climate change could be “beneficial” and opposes environmental regulations. Schmidt said groups trying to cast doubt on climate change science are "just literally lying."
Google’s membership in ALEC has been criticized because of the group’s stance on climate change and its opposition to network neutrality rules and municipal broadband. Earlier this month, Google refused to comment after 50 advocacy groups called on the company to end its affiliation with ALEC.
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Google Will Stop Supporting Climate Change Science Deniers, Calls Them Liars
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Now KEN and BARBIE are PERMANENTLY ADDICTED to MIND-ALTERING DRUGS ...
(Score: 2) by bzipitidoo on Tuesday September 23 2014, @10:27PM
I'm glad Google dumped ALEC, but why didn't they catch on sooner? Why, for that matter did Google ever join ALEC at all? They admit it was a mistake. Did they think they could persuade ALEC to admit climate change is real? If it could be done at all, it would have taken a deal of educating, because the people in ALEC are a dangerous sort of ignorant who think their success in life is because they get it right. They have no idea how wrong they are and lack the humility to acknowledge that sometimes, they, like everyone else, make mistakes. There are even studies that found that the less intelligent are the ones more likely to be more sure of themselves and their positions. They don't understand the difference between propaganda and fact, religion and science. They are cunning fools. The pro-business wing of the Republican party still does not understand why it was a damn fool thing to get in bed with the idiots among the social conservatives, the sorts who want to teach Creationism in biology class and spout nonsense about "legitimate rape". They saw only useful idiots and propaganda tools that they too could use.
Seems a case of corporate herd instinct, with the leaders of Google too busy with other more technological matters to pay attention to a detail like this until public outcry got their attention.
(Score: 2) by Nerdfest on Tuesday September 23 2014, @10:32PM
Maybe they misguidedly thought they were making some progress on whatever unrelated bill or lobbying they were originally doing. Seems unlikely though, as they could probably just leave the money and back away. It's more likely they're not nearly as agile as they wish they were an corporate inertia took over. It still seems like a pretty stupid move to throw their hats in with a group like that in the first place though.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Tuesday September 23 2014, @10:59PM
'm glad Google dumped ALEC, but why didn't they catch on sooner? Why, for that matter did Google ever join ALEC at all?
Climate is only ONE of the items on this group's agenda, and the group themselves probably wish it had crept into their agenda.
Google previously was not necessarily sold on Net Neutrality or allowing Municipal broadband, these things compete with some of the things on Google's plate, and they have vacillated on both topics. Municipal broadband competes with Google fiber, Net Neutrality competes with some aspects of Android.
And there are probably a number of other items on the group's agenda that Many, if not most businesses would sign onto.
The problem here is that group peed on today's third rail of politics, and poisoned the well (sorry: couldn't help but mix those metaphors).
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Tuesday September 23 2014, @11:00PM
wish it had NOT crept...
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Nerdfest on Tuesday September 23 2014, @11:15PM
What aspects of Android are affected by net neutrality?
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday September 24 2014, @01:01AM
Google got pretty two-faced about net neutrality (along with Verizon) back in 2010. The fully supported net neutrality for wireline services but totally exempted themselves and the entire wireless industry [blogspot.com] from net neutrality:
Sixth, we both recognize that wireless broadband is different from the traditional wireline world, in part because the mobile marketplace is more competitive and changing rapidly. In recognition of the still-nascent nature of the wireless broadband marketplace, under this proposal we would not now apply most of the wireline principles to wireless, except for the transparency requirement. In addition, the Government Accountability Office would be required to report to Congress annually on developments in the wireless broadband marketplace, and whether or not current policies are working to protect consumers.
The were called out on this so furiously that within days they were forced to post another piece trying to defend themselves [blogspot.com] but nobody was buying it. But the FCC saw their chance to exempt wireless, and pounced [engadget.com].
The FCC thought it would make selling net neutrality to congress and industry easier because all they would have to fight were the big ISPs.
Well, that fight isn't going exactly according to plan either. Had Google not caved in to Verizon, we would be in a much better position today. But divide and conquer seems to be working for big carriers.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by Nerdfest on Wednesday September 24 2014, @01:19AM
True, we'd be in better shape, but it has nothing to do with Android.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by frojack on Wednesday September 24 2014, @03:14AM
Yes it does.
If Google hadn't been pushing android so hard at that time, the would never have fallen under the persuasion of Verizon. They would have stuck to their net neutrality guns. Verizon convinced them to do otherwise.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.