I've got a very serious question for everyone.......

[Minnesota Libra]

....I don't usually say much online about my private life but in this case I need to explain something in order to set the stage for what I'm going to ask.

I'm on a very limited income due to a disability. At the moment the internet is the primary source of my news and information, as to what is going on in the world. For me the price of monthly ISP services, etc is already a strain on the budget. Even so, if I have to make a few changes in order to afford the ISP services I will for as long as I can.

I'm including some thread links about media reports and talk here at DU about censorship of the internet and possibly even ending the internet as we now know it. Our Constitution has been ripped nearly into nonexistence and this could and probably will happen too.

So the internet could easily become a pay as you go venture with prices constantly going up. Or the internet could somehow get regulated right out of being of any use at all. I'm convinced lawmakers and others will keep hacking(pun intended) away at this until they get what they want, total control of our last informational option. When that happens has anyone at DU thought about how we would stay as informed as we are now?? How could we stay in touch?? What should I be thinking about doing now to be ready for it? You get the point, tell me what I need to know from here and give me any thoughts and ideas you might have.

Why the internet will die
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=680990&mesg_id=680990

CNET: Is the end of the Internet upon us?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x685095

Judge orders Gmail disclosure
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2173142

Protect Bloggers
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x686149







Please don't tell me it won't happen either because first thing I'll say is, right and no one thought our Consitution would ever get shredded into nonexistance either, did we. So please take my question seriously and please help me figure out how we could all stay as well informed as we are now if the internet was so drastically changed that it became priced out of our range to pay or became so censored it was basically no longer useful.

[napi21]

1. I AM going to tell you it won't happen but I'll also tell you why.

WAY too many people love the net, just the way it is. If you thought the response of the voters against selling the ports was strong, you ain't seen nothin' yet!

There is NO elected official that would ever vote for such a thing....they want to get re-elected and that would be the kiss of death to their career!!!!!

[SammyWinstonJack]

2. I tend to agree with you. I think they are barking up the wrong tree

here.

[wakeme2008]

3. Right and it is NOT a Repug vs Dem thing

both groups having strong attachments to the Net.

[tulsakatz]

5. I agree too!

I've had a computer for about 5 yrs and for 6 yrs before that, I was on Web TV. Ever since my early days on Web TV, I've seen rumors about charging for the internet/email and I've never seen it actually happen!

I just don't believe it ever would happen! For one thing, it can cost some money for computers, etc not to mention the monthly charges. I have a computer at home and I also have a (wireless) Sidekick from T-Mobile (it's like a Blackberry). And my Sidekick cost almost as much as I paid for my computer not to mention the monthly charges! Together, I pay about $65.00 per month (hi speed internet and monthly Sidekick charges). So if they start charging separate fees for things you do on the internet, these companies may find that many of their users will refuse to subscribe to those services........for either financial reasons or just because they object to paying for something that used to be free!

And there is plenty of stuff on the internet where they charge you money without having to pay for each separate email or to visit a website.

I just don't see it happening.

[sproutster]

4. I agree it will happen

Coporate wants their cut.

I think there will be some sort of underground movement, and opensource along with encrypted ip packets (by Opensource - coz the feds have backdoors in the commercial stuff)

Keep an eye on the laws and opensource - and we'll find out which way the wind will blow. As everyone above me has said, we *all* love it too much.

[IsItJustMe]

6. If it did come to that, I would hope we would have enough time for some

type of mass address swap. I would hope. I think it could easily be organized if we put our minds to it.

[IsItJustMe]

7. dup

[donco6]

8. I don't think it will happen because businesses would hate it.

They profit from cheap access to their web sites for people ordering goods, conducting business (so they don't have to hire phone attendants), etc. I think the only ones supporting it would be the phone companies, and they aren't exactly held in high esteem by many businesses.

[JanusAscending]

9. It's funny you ask this today!

On the noon news here in Ct. I saw a piece about Cuba's restrictions of the internet. I was unaware that Castro's regime was censoring his peoples access to the internet to this extent!! Wow!!!! Just let shrub and his minions try it here, and we'll have a new name for America.........CASTRO'S CUBA !!! It "could" happen, if we aren't diligent enough to get this OUT THERE!! I'm on a fixed income too, and I can't imagine life now without my access to DU and y'all!!! My head blows up every time my computer won't let me access my server (I'm on dial up) only because I'm not close enough to a tower for DSL.:argh:

[bananas]

10. There are still some free public-access BBS's around

unfortunately it might be a long-distance phone call if you can't find a close one. If internet access becomes expensive or censored, a lot of people will just go back to BBS systems. I don't think it will happen though, the trend is cheaper access. Instead of political censorship, they use propoganda and disinformation, and control of media access (for example photographing the returning caskets was banned).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulletin_board_system

[Joe Fields]

11. From a purely business standpoint, I do not believe it will happen.

It would be the death of the internet. I do not believe that businesses would kill the goose that laid the golden egg.

Of course I could be wrong.

As to how we would stay in touch with what is REALLY happening in the world without the net? I'm sorry. I haven't a clue.

But I can tell you what I will do. I will sell my computer, get rid of my television and move to an isolated spot in the country, where I will raise vegetables and live out my days in blissful ignorance.

[sproutster]

12. That's my plan - I have some rural land in Alaska

Only reachable by small plane.

[Minnesota Libra]

13. I love your approach!!!! Not a bad idea especially in these times. nt

[walldude]

14. Actually I'll bet that within the next 5 years no one will be paying

for internet service. With the exception of rural areas you will have free wireless internet in most major cities within the next few years. I travel alot and some cities already have it.

[Minnesota Libra]

15. Hope all of you are right because now that I'm learning about....

......what our government is really doing I don't want to quit now.:loveya: