Gold Star for a Greenhorn              April 3, 2013

            Let’s hear it for Nebraska’s first-term Senator Deb Fisher, and Minnesota’s Senator Al Franken.  They co-sponsored an amendment to promote broad band internet access in rural areas.  The Senate passed the amendment.  It’s a start.  We need so much more.

            Broad band should be more accessible to inner city people too, and at bargain basement rates.  Think broadcast television.  At the very least, it should be a public utility, supervised by a public service commission.  Like the phone company used to be before the squirrels ate away all the insulation on our “responsible” wiring. 

Some day, people are going to realize that quality internet access at low rates (not the crap that is too expensive now) is a means of maximizing the talent that is so under-encouraged in America.  When that happens, a mandate will engulf legislators and our country will again change for the better. 

Then we will only have to overcome the immense legislative influence wielded by today’s mediocre providers.  We saw what happened to the idea of cable companies offering a cafeteria style choice of channels.  Right!  It just disappeared.  There’s only so much congress can do when the big sacks of money open.  The Fisher-Franken amendment will probably open one of those big sacks for broad band providers, but as noted, it’s a start—a commendable start in lamentable circumstances.  So, thank you Deb Fisher, and Al Franken.  May reason and good judgment taint your every future decision.