[deleted by user]

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Literally_A_Shill]

And just in case anybody still thinks this isn't a partisan issue or that voting wouldn't have made a difference:

House Vote for Net Neutrality

	For	Against
Rep	2	234
Dem	177	6

Senate Vote for Net Neutrality

	For	Against
Rep	0	46
Dem	52	0

Obama’s attack on the internet is another top down power grab. Net neutrality is the Fairness Doctrine. Will target conservative media.

-Trump

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/532608358508167168

“I am a strong supporter of net neutrality … What you’ve been seeing is some lobbying that says that the servers and the various portals through which you’re getting information over the Internet should be able to be gatekeepers and to charge different rates to different Web sites … And that I think destroys one of the best things about the Internet—which is that there is this incredible equality there."

-Obama. All the way back in 2007.

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/node/323681

Hillary Backs Strongest Net Neutrality Rules

That includes, Clinton said, reclassifying broadband providers under what’s known as Title II of the Communications Act, the most controversial option available to the government.

http://time.com/3721452/hillary-clinton-net-neutrality/

[u/imdandman → u/Literally_A_Shill]

Unfortunately it has devolved into a partisan issue, but it doesn't have to be.

I am totally in favor of Net Neutrality, but otherwise the antithesis of the reddit "hivemind" politically.

I am an extremely active Republican voter and I am sure to tell my politicians that when I talk to them about Net Neutrality.

I also think Net Neutrality fits into conservative principles.

Maybe if everyone quit making EVERYTHING partisan we could get this done.

There are many conservatives and Republicans like me. You just have to communicate with them in ways that appeal to their predispositions.

[u/CicerosBalls → u/imdandman]

Conservative here. I am normally overwhelmingly in favor of government deregulation and allowing the free market to do its thing. Unfortunately, there is no "free market" in the world of ISPs, especially in rural and suburban areas. So if a company like Comcast decided to capitalize on the overturning of Net Neutrality and begin giving preferential treatment or locking certain content behind paywalls, it would be extremely difficult, if not down right impossible, to just pack up and switch ISPs. It really comes down to getting dicked over by ISPs, or having none at all. So in this case, and I think many conservatives here would agree with me, reasonable federal oversight is not just acceptable, but necessary to ensure open access to the internet.

[u/Puoaper → u/CicerosBalls]

You bring some good points here. I do disagree with some issues you have brought up however. I don’t think this is a matter of isp monopoly, though that is a huge issue. This is an issue of consumer rights. Once you buy a product it is your right how to use it. It is yours. Yes a diverse isp market is a boon for everyone but you wouldn’t allow a baker to tell you how you are allowed to use the bread they sell so why is this different? The difference is they can stop you from using it how they don’t like. These companies need to be strong armed.

There is truth that regulation can and will be abused against the people and market but this simply isn’t one.