3 ms·

I am surprised that no one on HN is discussing what I consider an important point of the repeal, namely clipping the wings if the federal government (a good thi

I am surprised that no one on HN is discussing what I consider an important point of the repeal, namely clipping the wings if the federal government (a good thing), and letting states decide for themselves how they want to regulate internet access. Heck, I'd even be in favour of this being regulated at the municipal level, to curtail state power.

detaro 8y ago
How is it "clipping the wings of the federal government" if a federal agency decides itself to stop making rules about something? It can unfold it wings again at any time.
- brokovich2323 8y ago
  Doesn't really matters if it's self-inflicted. The result is the same: the fed have removed a regulation at the federal level. The state are now free to choose what they do. States who make the "wrong" choice will get get punished economically. Free market. Nothing bad about it.
  - arrosenberg 8y ago
    Meanwhile, the people in those states suffer. How is that better for the people of this country? Without getting too deep down the rabbit hole of representation and balance of power in many states, Federal regulation generally exists to protect people in States that refuse to make the "right" choice, as you put it. Removing Federal regulation isn't a net-good by default — in this case the regulation served a legitimate purpose to protect consumers and should have been left alone.
bmpafa 8y ago
Saying a curtailment of federal authority is necessarily a good thing makes you sound like an ideologue. Government isn't intrinsically good or bad, and there is no ideal amount of it. Case by case we should decide when the public's interests are served by having a voice in a marketplace besides the money we spend.
frockington 8y ago
I've noticed Hacker News as a whole ss a strong pro regulation crowd. I'm thinking it might be due to how international the site is

detaro 8y ago

How is it "clipping the wings of the federal government" if a federal agency decides itself to stop making rules about something? It can unfold it wings again at any time.

brokovich2323 8y ago
Doesn't really matters if it's self-inflicted. The result is the same: the fed have removed a regulation at the federal level. The state are now free to choose what they do. States who make the "wrong" choice will get get punished economically. Free market. Nothing bad about it.
- arrosenberg 8y ago
  Meanwhile, the people in those states suffer. How is that better for the people of this country? Without getting too deep down the rabbit hole of representation and balance of power in many states, Federal regulation generally exists to protect people in States that refuse to make the "right" choice, as you put it. Removing Federal regulation isn't a net-good by default — in this case the regulation served a legitimate purpose to protect consumers and should have been left alone.

bmpafa 8y ago

Saying a curtailment of federal authority is necessarily a good thing makes you sound like an ideologue. Government isn't intrinsically good or bad, and there is no ideal amount of it. Case by case we should decide when the public's interests are served by having a voice in a marketplace besides the money we spend.

frockington 8y ago

I've noticed Hacker News as a whole ss a strong pro regulation crowd. I'm thinking it might be due to how international the site is