Should the government control the internet? Why?

Question

for my debate

Answer 1

Heavens no. Big brother needs to stay out of our lives...

Answer 2

No it should not.

The Internet has already done America a great service as the elitist and government-loving mainstream media is on the defensive and increasingly irrelevant. The Government is even on the defensive from the Internet. Government Schools are attacked all the time (deservedly) for poor performance and propaganda for curriculum. We'd still be willing to stay the course in Iraq if it wasn't for the Internet exposing the corruption of that war. We wouldn't have a Ron Paul campaign for president (he's the strongest pro-Internet member of Congress according to Cnet and also the only Libertarian, as in the ideology of the Founding Fathers and of freedom, in Congress) that's drawing widespread support despite being blacked out by the media. We wouldn't have all these great websites such as Myspace and YouTube that are changing our society as a whole without the Internet. If the government regulated the Internet, it would turn it into total garbage. Government fails at everything miserably compared to the standard of the market (which is why Russia fell). Government should never be expanded for any purpose and should be cut whenever possible because it cannot do anything right.

There are a few people calling for the government to regulate the Internet in the name of "Net Neutrality," but that's just absolute nonsense. They're being paid by Google which is afraid that next-generation Internet services that allow for streaming video without having to buffer might exist. The same people wanted to ban Broadband until everybody can get it, which still isn't the case today and would never be the case if they got their way.

Don't ever make the mistake of ever justifying government's expansion at all. Unless you want to live in the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany, you should promote less government, not more at all times.

Answer 3

Absolutely not. Government is WAY out of control. As Americans, we need to be adults and rule ourselves. Minimal government, combined with responsible citizens, makes for a great life. If we grant gov't increased control over internet, we will be just one step closer to a police state. I would rather die than live in a police state.

Answer 4

Internet is nothing that is discovered by or owned by the Govt. Why should the Govt. control it? Everything that the Govt. controls is going to inhibit the growth and technological progress in those areas. The internet involves various parties. The Govt. can help these parties to come to platform to sort out any abuse that may affect the legitamate functioning of the Govt.
Govt. control means begining of the end of promising futures.

Answer 5

NO. The government controls so many other things. (FCC). Free speech is dying in this country whether people realize it or not. Everything is somehow tied into the government. News is politically biased. Everything is censored. Its ridiculous! The first amendment is going down the toilet!

Answer 6

It doesn't matter if government should or should not control the internet. Reality is government CAN'T control the internet.

Answer 7

No. We're supposed to have a government "by the people". And the Internet should be managed the same way. Let the goverment run things- & they end up running "us".

Answer 8

We need one central rule maker for technical continuity. The Government only controls the rules. It owns nothing.

Answer 9

yahoo, google, msn, controls the Internet they don't need the governments help.

Answer 10

I have some sad news for you. The government does control the net.

Answer 11

Government needs to control the internet for violations against indecency and child abuse because it has become so accessible with so many users.