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McCabe Tells FCC 'Don’t create Internet Apartheid' PDF Print E-mail
News - Articles for Nation & World
Written by Commoners for Mike McCabe, Christine Welcher   
Thursday, 30 November 2017 16:19

internet-ruralNet Neutrality, the core operating principle of a free, open and non-discriminatory Internet, should be maintained says Candidate for Governor in letter to Federal Communications Commission.


MADISON - With the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) poised to act as soon as December 14 on a proposed repeal of Net Neutrality, the core operating principle of a free, open and non-discriminatory Internet, Wisconsin governor candidate Mike McCabe said today the move would open the door to “Internet Apartheid” and urged the FCC to keep Net Neutrality in place.

mike-mccabe“The biggest single challenge facing our state and our country today is economic and political inequality,” McCabe said. “Our government and the economy work really well for a wealthy and well-connected few, and are failing most of the rest of us. Doing away with Net Neutrality would widen the gaps and accelerate the growth of inequality by clearing the way for the creation of what could effectively become two separate Internets – an ultra-fast and comprehensive one for those who can afford to pay substantial premiums for access and a far slower and more limited one for everyone else. This would make it even more difficult for those who have been losing ground to compete economically and fully participate in modern American life.”

McCabe has been an advocate of Internet freedom and a defender of Net Neutrality for many years, dating back to his time leading the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, which in 1996 created and published online the state’s first and only searchable database of political donors and has updated and expanded the online money tracking tool ever since.

McCabe authored a book, Blue Jeans in High Places: The Coming Makeover of American Politics, published in 2014. Chapter 11 deals with the Internet’s importance to the future of American democracy and its potential as a tool that could empower tech-savvy youth to substantially remake the country’s politics. In the chapter, McCabe wrote: “Today’s Internet has been described as an information superhighway. Tomorrow’s Internet could become a system of toll roads. Pay to get in the top tier and your site and your service will run fast. Pay less for a lower tier and you’re stuck in the slow lane.”

*****

The following statement has been sent to the FCC:

Dear Commissioners:

For love of America and everything it stands for, and for the good of our country’s future competitiveness globally, do not stoop to digital discrimination and vote to end Net Neutrality.

The Internet’s founding principle was that every website, online feature and service should be treated the same. Altering or doing away with the anti-discrimination rules embodied in the policy of Net Neutrality opens the door to what could amount to Internet Apartheid. The emergence of what would effectively become two segregated Internets not only would create an unrecognizable Internet experience for many if not most Americans, it also would stifle economic and social innovation. The level playing field of today’s Internet is what has enabled bloggers to compete with global media conglomerates, it is what empowers up-and-coming musicians to build underground audiences long before their songs crack the top 40, it is what has spawned the EBays and Amazons of the world and makes it possible for upstart retailers to compete with big boxes for customers.

With a pay-per-view Internet, it is easy to see how inventors and entrepreneurs and their startups could be muscled out of the marketplace by big corporations that pay for a top spot on the Web. It is easy to see how network operators could amass even greater profits if Net Neutrality is ended, and it is equally easy to see how that would hinder the next generation of inventors and innovators and thinkers and dreamers and anyone else who cannot afford top-tier online access.

Not much imagination is required to see how Internet Apartheid also would shape our politics once the electoral impact of the digital age reaches full flower. The marketplace of ideas would be further tilted in favor of big-money interests. Citizens or groups without the means to buy top-tier service would be further disadvantaged. Political innovation would be further stifled.

Don’t do it. Don’t vote to end Net Neutrality and create Internet Apartheid.

Mike McCabe
Candidate for governor of Wisconsin

Last Updated on Thursday, 30 November 2017 16:41
 
GOP Tax “Reform” Puts Wisconsin Housing & Jobs In Direct Peril PDF Print E-mail
News - Articles for Nation & World
Written by Wisconsin Democrats   
Wednesday, 29 November 2017 17:09

paul-ryanPotential loss of 6,010 jobs and over $500 million in business income in Wisconsin alone.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 November 2017 17:56
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GOP Tax Plan Hurts Middle Class PDF Print E-mail
News - Articles for Nation & World
Written by Wisconsin Senate, Kate Constalie   
Sunday, 19 November 2017 11:39

money-behind-politicsCongressional Republicans pass tax bill that favors top 1%. Proof is in how the savings of new tax brackets trade off against lost deductions for the middle class taxpayer.

Last Updated on Sunday, 19 November 2017 12:13
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Gov Walker Supports Raising Taxes On People Making Under $75,000 PDF Print E-mail
News - Articles for Nation & World
Written by Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Melanie Conklin   
Thursday, 16 November 2017 15:20

RyanHouse tax bill, set for a vote Thursday, will raise taxes, gives breaks to wealthy elite.


MADISON - Gov. Scott Walker published a column endorsing the national Republican tax reform scheme, even as Sen. Ron Johnson says he is a no vote due to how the bill treats pass-through businesses such as the one he owned and continues to benefit from.

Democrats oppose both House and Senate versions of the bills because we know how hard it is for families, retirees, teachers, student-loan borrowers, students and people making less than $75,000 who on average will receive a tax increase.

“Democrats believe in fairness. Giving a handout to the wealthy so that taxes can be raised on people already struggling is not the American way and certainly not what Democrats are going to sit by and watch happen,” stressed Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Martha Laning.

scott-walker“Under Scott Walker’s failed governance, Wisconsin has been the test lab for these destructive and discredited Republican schemes,” continued Laning. “At the same time that giveaways were doled out to wealthy and large corporations, we saw some of the biggest cuts in our state’s history to our public education system and our communities. Just as Republican tax schemes were bad for Wisconsinites, the current GOP plan he praises will be bad for all of America.”

donald-trumpThe Republican tax plan gives a huge tax break to big businesses and the wealthiest 1% all while raising taxes on millions of middle-class families. Scrambling to accomplish a single item on their legislative agenda, after feuding, fighting and failing all year, Congressional Republicans are expected to rush this plan through as quickly as possible.

Early in his tenure, Walker and legislative Republicans passed a tax plan which gave the wealthiest corporations a huge tax giveaway while nearly wiping out these businesses’ tax liability. Over a seven year period, the credit is estimated to cost the state $805 million. Walker recently showed his support for the tax plan in an opinion column published in the Journal Sentinel.

“By endorsing this tax scam, Walker has told Wisconsinites that he still believes in failed economic theories and will run Wisconsin further into the ditch if he continues to be governor,” added Laning.

The GOP’s tax plan repeals the estate tax, which solely benefits the super-wealthy. To pay for this enormous transfer of wealth from the middle-class to billionaires and wealthy corporations, the Republican budget would make devastating cuts to Medicaid, Social Security, education funding, and other services.

To further fund the giveaway, Republicans are now pushing to take health care away from 13 million people. In contrast, Democrats believe in health care for all. Democrats also believe that any tax reform should not give another penny to the wealthy, whose taxes Republicans routinely fight to lower. #NotOnePenny

“Republicans have admitted this plan was written with their rich donors in mind, not the millions of Americans who depend on services that will be cut, not the 13 million Americans who may lose their health insurance and not the middle-class family who will see their taxes increase as they struggle to save, take a vacation, pay off student loan debt or pay for health care.

“Wisconsinites deserve a fair and equitable tax system. Republicans have said that it’s ‘very hard’ not to give tax cuts to the wealthy, but if you ask Democrats, it’s pretty simple. Give every person the tools to achieve economic security and prosperity, not just those who already have the decks stacked for their success.”

 
GOP Tax Scam Gets Even Worse, Johnson Opposes PDF Print E-mail
News - Articles for Nation & World
Written by Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Brad Bainum   
Thursday, 16 November 2017 10:31

ryan-trump-tax-scamNew Changes Would End Of Health Insurance Coverage For 13 Million Americans, Spike Consumer Costs by 10%, Hike Taxes For Nearly 1-in-3 Wisconsinites. Corporations get across the board, permanent cuts, while middle-class families face tax hikes.

Last Updated on Friday, 17 November 2017 11:08
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