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September 30, 2005
The American Web
America needs to give up Internet control
I have this general feeling that the US does a better job running the Web than an international coordinating body would. This does not mean that I am correct...
What bothers me is this: if the Internet is a tool which can be used to further American interests, and if the world is now afraid of letting that tool stay in American hands, we’ve screwed up...
What is really worrisome is that it is Republican immoral policies which have caused the world to want to rip this tool away from us. Once again the American Right has damaged American strength...
Posted by Andrew at September 30, 2005 11:57 AM
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Comments
I definitely agree with you that the internet is better off in US control than some global body - remember that UN agent proposing an internet tax to pay for global development? - but I have to take you up on something:
"What is really worrisome is that it is Republican immoral policies which have caused the world to want to rip this tool away from us."
Global anti-americanism has nothing to do with the Republicans and everything to do with simply being the most powerful country on earth (for now at least). Anti-americanism has been popular around the world for several decades now, but most particularly since the end of the USSR meant lots of people no longer rely on the US to keep the Soviets at bay.
It's also worth noting that for nearly half the period since the Berlin Wall came down an intelligent and internationally aware Democrat (Clinton) was in power - yet it was during his presidency that anti-americanism really grew. It was also during his presidency that groups like al-Qaeda reached critical mass.
America will not be liked by the world until China takes over as superpower, and then it will be China's turn to be disliked. The Republicans might have increased people's eagerness to embrace China in the short-term, but at the end of the day the problem people have is with another country being more powerful than their own. It's happened to every powerful country, regardless of parties or leaders or whatever. It's just the way it goes.
Posted by: Splat Guy at October 2, 2005 05:36 AM
Yeah, I think that comment was just a tad over the top, Andrew.
I don't suppose the UN/EU move has anything to do with the fact that 95% of the people who work for the corrupt whorehouse known as the UN love nothing better than telling the rest of the world what to do, how to do it, and where; a habit they share with the elitist/statist regimes in charge of the EU today.
Look at the countries who want control of the internet for repression. China, anyone? And one of the current ironies is that the country hosting the current summit (Tunisia) won't let their own dissidents on the net!
And you're wasting your time bitching about the GOP? Sheesh... :)
Posted by: Casey Tompkins at October 7, 2005 09:53 PM