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> The plan would also require service providers to offer a “basic” broadband plan at an “affordable price.” This really connects to socialism. China used to ha
by datashow 7y ago
> The plan would also require service providers to offer a “basic” broadband plan at an “affordable price.”
This really connects to socialism. China used to have "Price Bureau" (物价局). It sounds like Sanders is calling for one in the U.S.
Also, if "affordable price" policy is needed for internet, why not needed for more basic stuff like food and medicine?
Maybe food is too expensive for the poor because there is no Price Examination Department (物价检查所) to check price in grocery stores?
- minikites 7y ago>Also, if "affordable price" policy is needed for internet, why not needed for more basic stuff like food and medicine? It is and Medicare for All is a popular policy proposal.
- cannonedhamster 7y agoFood in the US is regularly subsidized, especially meat. It's how we compete unfairly with the rest of the world. ISPs already receive massive subsidies to have laid fiber they decided not to lay. They kept the money though. The US pays more for healthcare and receives poorer results on average than anywhere else in the world. Pretty sure you're unfamiliar with the differences between socialism and communism. The US is a heavily socialist state with massive corporate welfare plans. Instead of spending our money on taking care of our people we take care of the wealthy.
- datashow 7y agoSubsidy is not price control.
- gizmo686 7y agoSanders litterally wrote the damn bill for free-at-use medical coverage. Current policy already has mechanisms (broken though they may be) to provide affordable medicine to people, ranging from government provided medicaid to income based discounts on drugs. Current policy provides subsidized food to everyone in the country (and outside of the country, which is something of a sticking point on trade negotiations). We additionally provide further subsidies on a need based basis through the SNAP program (aka, food stamps). Prices are already highly regulated for other utilities like electric and water (although, I am not sure what regulationd exist at the federsl level here) EDIT: also, China is a rapidly growing economy that has overall had very succesfull policies. We should not blindly copy what they do, but "China did it" is not a convincing arguement.
- datashow 7y agoChina did it in old days, gave it up under market economy. Also subsidiaries are different from price control.