[11623] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: Clinton Adminsitration etc; Nothing new here
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Roger Bohn)
Mon Apr 11 22:37:32 1994
Date: Mon, 11 Apr 1994 12:16:56 -0800
To: "Joseph W. Stroup" <nettech@crl.com>, Gordon Cook <cook@path.net>
From: Rbohn@ucsd.edu (Roger Bohn)
Cc: com-priv@psi.com
Chill out, guys. Nothing new about any of this; big government has heavily
subsidized big business for decades if not centuries. A few examples that
spring to mind:
Federal water programs in the Western U.S. (You don't seriously believe the
almost-free water is going to mom and pop farmers, do you?)
Giving away broadcasting licenses (radio spectrum) to radio and TV
stations, phone companies, and lots of others. (For the first time in U.S.
history, the FCC will actually auction some spectrum next year.)
8 zillion kinds of loan and grant programs, e.g. subsidies to tobacco farmers.
West Publishing company relations with DOJ, amply discussed here.
So, dump on Washington all you want, but don't pretend this is anything to
do with the Clinton administration. Why do you think companies employ all
those "tassel-shoed lobbyists" who Congressmen are so keen to dump on
(while accepting their campaign contributions through back doors)? There
is nothing wrong with holding these things up to public ridicule, but keep
a copy of Don Quixote close at hand.
At 11:21 PM 4/10/94 -0700, Joseph W. Stroup wrote:
>Hold the phone folks - Have I read this right ? The U.S. Government is
>going to fund COMPUSERVE II ? What is the crap ? I have to tell myself
>each and everyday - Joe this is NOT your ditch to die in.
>
>On Mon, 11 Apr 1994, Gordon Cook wrote:
>
>> NOTE the statement:
>> CommerceNet has an initial
>> investment of $12 million with **half of its funding** to come from
>>government.
>>
>> Do I hear this right? Someone in the Clinton Administration is
>> dumping $6 million in tax dollars into a scheme to support commercial
>>services
>> by these wealthy companies over the internet?
>>
>> What public interest is being served by doing this? Did these companies tell
>> Mike Nelson, Tom Kalil, Larry Irving and Al Gore they were so poor they could
>> NOT explore commerce on the network unless taxpayers footed half the bill!
>> ??
