Subj : Linspire 5.0
To   : TOM WALKER
From : CHARLES ANGELICH
Date : Tue Sep 27 2005 04:20 pm

123c7863a6c3
win95



Hello Tom - 

CA>> I said: "In the USA over half of all internet access is
CA>> _not_ via a modem." You say: "... 42% have Broadband." 

CA>> We differ by 9% - I must be terribly/horribly misinformed. 

TW> I did NOT imply that. And there is a BIG difference between
TW> "OVER HALF" and 42%. 

Well there IS a 9% difference if you think that is "BIG". 

TW> That is kinda like Clinton saying he had a Mandate with
TW> getting LESS then Half of the Votes cast. 

I thought that was Dubya? 

CA>> "The prevailing 'wisdom' is that we should all be using
CA>> broadband of one sort or another by the end of the next
CA>> decade at the latest." 

TW> True but untill ohter things change it will not really
TW> happen as quick as they Predict. 

CA>> In my college economics class they told me we have a
CA>> "Limited Free Enterprise system". The government reserves
CA>> the right to interfere in market decisions at any time the
CA>> government feels the need to do so. 

TW> Adn I am greatefulkl foir that. As GREED and Corruption
TW> hurt the Litle Guy the most. Althouhg a socialized system
TW> wiith 100% control is even Wrose. 

I guess I question why that government power is not exercised
more often to benefit the poor? I see it being used to aid the
rich (Haliburton no-bid contracts). 

CA>> There has been talk that slowing adoption of the internet
CA>> at broadband (or higher) speeds could have a negative
CA>> impact on our ability to compete in the world markets and
CA>> the government might just exercise it's authority to
CA>> intervene and speed the process along. 

TW> I think that is a self serving propogaqnda spread by the
TW> Communications companies. Any Company that needs Boradbans
TW> HAS IT for Internet commerce. But I as ma litrtle guy have
TW> NO prolbem spending my Money over a POTS LINE on the
TW> Internet. 

You have a point but the poor do have access via libraries (if
we don't close them all). :-) 

CA>> Maybe when they rebuild New Orleans they will bury
CA>> fiber-optic cable first and make it the 'most networked'
CA>> city in the USA? 

TW> Would be a smart Move BUT just how many of the Overwelming
TW> poor population of NO be able to Afford it? 

Even many working poor cannot afford broadband as it is. If the
FCC would _force_ cable companies to unbundle internet access
from the TV portion then cable internet access would be no more
expensive than a second phone line is right now. 

TW> As a side3 note at one poing i nthe past SAn Diego
TW> CAlifornia has the "Most Networked" Downtown in the US. But
TW> then it is a fairly small area compaired to most large
TW> cities. 

I was following the fiber optic 'story' for one city where I
used to live but lost interest in it as it dragged along. It
was, as you have pointed out, an attempt by private business to
get the taxpayers to foot the bill for the costs with a very
small percentage returned to the government once it was operational.

>
>        ,                          ,
>      o/      Charles.Angelich      \o       ,
>     <|                              |>  __o/
>     / >          USA, MI           < \   __\__
 

--- * ATP/16bit 2.31 * 
.... http://www.devedia.com/dosghost/faf/thefrench.htm
 * Origin: Try Our Web Based QWK: DOCSPLACE.ORG (1:123/140)

.