Finally another hint at moving in the right direction by negotiating a free trade agreement with the USA. After all, we’re not a member of the EU for reasons. One of them being Freihandelsneutralität – a new chapter in the concept of “Staatsidee Schweiz”.

Nothing to do with Net Neutrality – but because us bloggers are nice and kind, we’ll help you put the toys back in the pram. Nice to hear you were famous back in 2002.

I agree that we cannot rely solely on the law to protect network neutrality, but abandoning the regulatory path is exactly what the most powerful media corporations would wish. This would allow them to rig Internet communications to favor those who can pay the most, and thus further concentrate power in the hands of the plutocracy.

You mean like now? When existing laws are not enforced in order to protect the corporate interests of those modern day robber barons?

Again, I’ll point out your logic is entirely flawed. In a political climate where we are not even enforcing laws that already exist, what possible value will new laws have to anyone except those already being shielded from the existing laws?

poptones has yet to confront the awkward question of what happens when the legal structure is frozen and technology continues to evolve. Do conflicts outside the law get resolved by combat again? Or do the economically strong simply force their will upon the weak? Perhaps the writings of Ayn Rand are not the best guide to management of a modern society.

Regarding Professor Lessig’s interest in improving the law, I believe the record speaks clearly in his favor. His heroic effort, in arguments before the Supreme Court, to check the expansion of copyright duration is but one example of his energetic advocacy of sound public policy in the United States.

And professor Lessig is a lawyer. A lawyer not lobbying for new and more laws would be like a wolf lobbying for fewer sheep.

As the structures of society evolve, the laws and regulations governing those structures must also evolve. Before the advent of aviation, there was no need for the FAA and international protocols and conventions governing aircraft flights. The public Internet is a radically novel feature of modern society. It is entirely reasonable to expect new laws and regulations to emerge to keep its functions efficient and equitable.

This stuff is already illegal. We know it’s illegal because the news agencies are telling us it is and because the administration is defending it while refusing to verify they’re even doing it – exactly the pattern they’ve used the last 6 years as they whittle away at our rights.

So yes… I’m sure “net neutrality” legislation would have prevented any such happenings. Because more laws that contain more loopholes to protect those in power is a way better defense against tyrants than simply enforcing existing laws that already defend us against such erosions of our liberties. Isn’t that what our patriots told us? More laws = freedom; fewer laws = tyranny.

Yes, I’m sure that’s exactly the formula…