Comments on: Republican Trial Balloons For 2012

By: ProfElwood

ProfElwood — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:30:49 +0000

I didn't reply to this earlier:

Neither are electricity or water, the super market sells water by the 5 Gallon container, what more could you possibly need? As for electricity, Honda make nice cheap generators, again what more could you possibly need?

Obviously, dedicated pipes and lines are much cheaper delivery. There are other competing systems to all of these: water wells, septic tanks, satellite TV, and solar energy. Cities get people on city water and sewage not by offering a better deal, but by charging people that don't use their systems.

Really? And whose land are these cable going to run on? and where are they going to get the right of way?

Many ISPs and large companies ran their own fiber for their networks. City sewers, railroad, roads, and electric companies will rent space to get these lines through, just like the monopolized cable companies do. There would be some redundancy, but it wouldn't be unique. Plus, redundancy is good, and redundancy is even better!

By: ProfElwood

ProfElwood — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:40:37 +0000

Yeah, I understand that. I have to subsidize the MSM myself. The only medium that let me do that was my old big satellite dish – I miss that thing.

By: Leonidas

Leonidas — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:41:03 +0000

Where is my "Cable a la carte" so I don't have to subsidize Fox News or CNN for that matter?

Hmmm...now who supported that and introduced a bill for it?....John McCain.

By: 103

103 — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:40:15 +0000

The right-wing media is responsible for President Obama's decline? No….the presidential ship is sinking all by itself; not only did it never have a rudder, it has no hull.

By: Don Quijote

Don Quijote — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:22:27 +0000

Cable and fiber lines are a lot cheaper to run and maintain than water lines and electric lines.

Really? And whose land are these cable going to run on? and where are they going to get the right of way?

Competition would be very possible with no real downside, except for politicians, of course.

I have competition where I live, Optimum, Fios, Dish And DirectTV, None of them offer "Cable a la Carte". Don't you think that there are sports junkie out there who want ESPN, YES and the NFL network and nothing else, why should they pay for CNN, FOX, SYFY, etc?

By: ProfElwood

ProfElwood — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:49:51 +0000

“Cable, like Electricity, Telephone (Land Line), Water is a natural monopoly…”
Except that it isn't. Cable and fiber lines are a lot cheaper to run and maintain than water lines and electric lines. Another major factor that people have noted since the cable monopolies started: it's not a vital service. If there's a delay getting your lines because the territory isn't a protected monopoly, you have other options, such as digital dishes, available, and your health isn't threatened by a lack of Ophra. Competition would be very possible with no real downside, except for politicians, of course.

By: blackrockburner

blackrockburner — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:40:44 +0000

I would like to see a presidential debate between Romney, Guiliani, Huckabe, and Palin.

Ask a question, any question and R, G and H will have at least semi-coherent answers. Palin will complain that the “gotcha liberal media” are being unfair to her.

By: Don Quijote

Don Quijote — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:56:03 +0000

DQ and PE - Just don't watch those channels you don't like, it's called choice. Some entrepreneur should just make a cable box that allows to lock or block channels...

When the Cable company sticks FOX on the basic tier, they are forcing me to subsidize FOX, I would rather get a 50 cents rebate than get FOX.

By: Don Quijote

Don Quijote — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:52:16 +0000

As usual you're wanting a government fix to the symptom of a government created problem

Cable, like Electricity, Telephone (Land Line), Water is a natural monopoly, and like all natural monopolies it should be regulated...

By: Rudi

Rudi — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:50:56 +0000

DQ and PE – Just don't watch those channels you don't like, it's called choice. Some entrepreneur should just make a cable box that allows to lock or block channels…
Most digital cable ready TV's can deselect any channel…

By: Ethos

Ethos — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:50:17 +0000

Or even better – stop watching TV altogether. Save some money and brain cells…

By: ProfElwood

ProfElwood — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:45:05 +0000

As usual you're wanting a government fix to the symptom of a government created problem (albeit, local government — they can be just as bad, sometimes). You don't have choices because the cities created protected monopolies. Fix that problem, and you'll have more choices.

By: And For This, We Give Thanks | Deep Brain Diary

And For This, We Give Thanks | Deep Brain Diary — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:35:45 +0000

[...] Republican Trial Balloons For 2012 (themoderatevoice.com) [...]

By: Don Quijote

Don Quijote — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:27:09 +0000

Or better yet, Drop Cable and use Netflix and Pirate bay to get all the programming you could ever want, without the commercials…

Which is the way I would go if I didn't have young kids.

By: Don Quijote

Don Quijote — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:08:55 +0000

Try the classic big satellite dish and a good antenna

Better yet, how about we pass a law that requires Cable companies to sell “a la carte”, that way we'll then be able to see the “Free Market” at work in all it's glory…

A simple access fee, the ability to buy and drop channels as people see fit, we'll see how long it takes for Fox, CNN and MSNBC to lose their audiences…

By: ProfElwood

ProfElwood — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:30:31 +0000

Try the classic big satellite dish and a good antenna. Cheaper programming, more choices, better service (no rain outages). You'll need to find out if it's compatible with your current reality filter, however.

By: Don Quijote

Don Quijote — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:45:16 +0000

Where are those media censors when you need them?

Where is my "Cable a la carte" so I don't have to subsidize Fox News or CNN for that matter?

By: DLS

DLS — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:37:50 +0000

Hatred (thinly packaged as revulsion) for typical conservative or GOP straw voodoo dolls goes nowhere.

And you poor, demented souls have forgotten someone you hated viciously, as recently as earlier this month: Carrie Prejean (a fabulous choice you deserve to see as your next Vice President under Palin, or next Secretary of State — or new Secretary of Culture [chuckle]).

By: ProfElwood

ProfElwood — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:36:26 +0000

“If it weren't for the constant hate-talk of the right-wing media, his approval rating would be 90%.”

Where are those media censors when you need them?

By: DLS

DLS — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:35:33 +0000

Everyone continuing to exhibit diseased behavior toward Palin (and make her wealthier and more famous) makes themselves look worse than ever.

As for the GOP, it's far too soon to jockey for 2012, even though they're doing it. Who's doing it, specifically? Last year's candidates — there's nothing new yet from the party desperately in need of newness. (As I've said before, Jeb Bush is poised to be a 2000-revisited brand-name family-dynasty default desperation candidate in 2012. He's viable for 2016, too, but I'm assuming the GOP will, before then, have finally reinvented or at least revised itself.)