Net neutrality foes outspent backers by over three to one – and that's just so far

[steve2470]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/05/16/net_neutrality_opponents_outspent_backers_by_three_to_one_margin/



The companies who oppose net-neutrality regulations are pumping far more resources into their lobbying efforts than those who support the measures.

This is according to the Sunlight Foundation, a non-partisan government watchdog that has tracked both spending and lobbying reports on the issue in recent years.

The group said in a blog post, issued shortly after the FCC announced its proposal for new net neutrality regulations, that the top donors opposed to stronger regulations – including AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast – outspent open-internet advocates such as Google at a rate of more than three to one.

"While the dispute over network neutrality is often thought of as a battle between giant corporations, it's clear from the data that over the lifespan of this issue, the pressure has been far from equal," the Sunlight Foundation said.

[snot]

2. K&R'd!

[Cha]

3. Thanks steve!

[steve2470]

4. mahalo Cha, hope you are well ! nt

[Cha]

5. I am thank you and I hope you're doing well, too~

[KansDem]

6. Why don't we call it for what it really is?

Lobbying? No, it's bribing by the "new people."

[Supersedeas]

24. but who is talking to and "contributing" to the panelists at the FCC

no one knows

[octoberlib]

7. K&R!

Good post!

[devils chaplain]

8. The people vs. the powerful N/T

[Armstead]

9. I suspect that's why it has been extended...Now the real Industry Lobby Money kicks in

Mr. Wheeler wants to wear down the opposition wiht their "extension for consideration." Now Comcast can dig into its deep pockets and really start their spending spree, while the grasstoots opponents have shot their wad,.

[Zipgun]

10. It would be nice for Google to take a break from building Skynet to put a little more money into

this effort.

[defacto7]

11. On the surface

it's good news.

When it comes to the part that seems to slide by most people, the part about money spent for a political positions, the part we seem to take for granted without thinking about the overall ramifications, none of it is good news.

Now that we know where the money comes from.... There are questions (rhetorical or not).

Q:

-Where does this money go that is spent to defend out position?
-Where does the money go that is spent to defend our constitutional rights?
-Who receives the millions upon millions of dollars that we the people, or the oligarchs, or the corporations, spend to get the results demanded?
- WHY does it cost more than cab fare to be heard?
- WHY are tens even hundreds of millions of dollars spent for what should be FREE speech? FREE opinion? The FREE will of the people?

THIS is the important issue; it's not that we have the honor of spending more than our antagonists, it's not that we were able to buy the winning lottery ticket that buys us the bingo ball that may or may not give us what is our right as citizens to begin with, it's that we have to pay anything at all.

When We the People have to buy a chance to be heard, we are blithely writing democracy's obituary. The United States that was envisioned and fought for by our ancestors is being dropped into the dustbin of history.

Sic transit gloria mundi.

.............................. and now a word from our sponsor.....................

[NorthCarolina]

12. Its always about the $$, and never about whats best for America. nt

[Supersedeas]

30. whether it is public airways or public lands--the "haves" leverage more influence than

the have-nots...it is a historical fact.

To change that notion is to change America.

[Overseas]

13. K&R.

[They_Live]

14. Great lesson for the kids.

Money is all that matters.

Moral code? Do the right thing? pfffft.

[smallcat88]

15. Any new petitions I can sign?

I've signed every petition I could find so far. Those of us with no money to donate have to make our voices heard!

[merrily]

19. The problems with signing petitions.

I've signed a hell of a lot since I got on the internet in a big way, around 2003. Not a single one of them made the difference I hoped it would make. It did, however, get my personal info on a lot of mailing lists that enabled people to ask me for money. Calls and emails to my Senators and my Representative, ditto. Out of every 100 calls or emails, I did not even get a form letter or email in response most of the time, unless they already had one prepared. Just that little "thanks for contacting me" that comes up automatically on the senate.gov and house.gov websites after you hit send on your message to your peeps.

Another problem with signing internet petitions. People think they've done their bit after they sign one. If it's not going to be effective, though is it really doing your bit? Let D.C. know you want net neutrality? Do we really think they acted on the assumption that we were dying for Comcast to charge us more for the good tier of service? They knew we didn't want it and they did it anyway.

After Obama was elected, over 70% of Americans from all political parties said (to pollsters) that they wanted taxes on income over $250K . Roughly the same percentage said they favored a strong public option. (I suspect the real percentage was even higher, but some percent of people polled were not going to give Democrats the satisfaction of saying they favored the Democratic platform.) So, no one in Washington was laboring under any delusion whatever about what most Americans wanted.. How did that work out for the 70%?


I think we have to face reality about those petitions and our calls and emails and start thinking of things that might work. Pocketbook things, like tax strikes and boycotts. Or donating whatever we can for someone to lobby for us (and then that they don't get corrupt, too.)

[smallcat88]

23. All true

And all very depressing. Still going to keep looking for ways to try and make a difference, that's all I can do.

[dreamnightwind]

25. +1

It's critical that we find a way to consistently defeat better-funded opposition.

Lobbyists who accept small donations and lobby with the power of the bundled donations is one approach. For many NGO's this is their entire business model. Nothing wrong with this approach, though we still mostly lose to the big money.

I think there should be a way through combining this with an electoral strategy that publicizes any votes that go in favor of the big corporate money and against public opinion. Make them fear that we'll work to get them out of office if thy ignore what the public wants.

Easier said than done, but it needs to happen somehow.

[merrily]

28. Don't be depressed. There are ways we can make a difference without spending billions,

which you and I don't have anyway.

But, first, we have to stop kidding ourselves and start looking for those ways that might work.

Facing the truth is not always easy, but at least it is a start going in the correct direction.

I operate on the premise that reality is always better than fantasy, even when the truth hurts.

But, if you want petitions anyway, google is probably the way to go.

[woo me with science]

16. The campaign promises were lies. Our "representative" government is a lie.

We are ruled by bought and paid for, corrupt politicians in a corrupt plutocracy.

Our single focus, across party lines, needs to be to get corporate money and power out of politics and return our government to the people.

[blkmusclmachine]

18. +1,000

[merrily]

20. Yes but I don't think we are going to do any of that unless we organize systematically.

We need an umbrella organization.

The right has the Kochs and the churches for setting policy, getting the troops fired up and spreading the word. What counterparts does "the left of the left" have for fighting the establishment?

Our money people support the status quo. Our fellows tell us not to help elect Republicans by using our vote against Democrats who fail us. Our message boards forbid anti-establishment discourse, esp. anti-Democratic Party/candidate discourse.

What are the solutions, then, and who will be the first among us to start collecting the money needed to organize us? And, if some person on the internet does step forward to start soliciting money, would you trust that person enough send it? I wouldn't.

People here have said I'm negative. I am not negative at all. I would anything to turn this around. What I won't do is pretend it is going to be easy, or cheap.

Post all you want, Sign all the internet petitions you want. Call your D.C. peeps and the White House till your fingers fall off.That is not going to turn this around and I refuse to pretend it will.

So what will. The only things I have thought of so far are tax strikes and economic boycotts. One of those things is forbidden here because it is against TOS to advocate illegal activity and withholding taxes is illegal; but I am willing to risk getting banned for suggesting it. Other things that I advocate elsewhere also cannot be discussed here because of the TOS. So, where do we begin?

[blkmusclmachine]

17. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Javaman]

21. 2 quotes that say it all...

"corporations are people, my friend"
-mittens Romney

"money trumps peace"
-george w. moron*

[merrily]

27. Is the FCC still reporting to Bush, even though Obama's been in office for 5 years?

They should be disciplined for that.

[Javaman]

29. ?

[merrily]

32. Quotes from two Republicans don't "say it all" about why the FCC did this

five years into Obama's administration.

[Javaman]

33. right.

two "republicans".

one was an illegally selected president whose friends made bank during his tenure.

and the other was the sweetheart of leveraged buy outs via his own corporation. who also ran for president.

yeah, just a couple of "republicans".

[Android3.14]

22. "So far"? Really?

In other news, studies show that as many as 50% of all public school students are performing below average and that if your parents didn't have any children, chances are you will also be childless.

[merrily]

26. Verizon and Comcast lobbyists now work for the FCC (on our dime), so the lobby spending is overkill.

And former FCC people now work for the industry, but at least we're no longer paying their salaries, cold comfort though that may be.

But don't you dare post that both of the largest parties are corporatist.

[Helen Borg]

31. It may take way mote than that!

Tere is huge opposition. By big corporations as well.