Good day dear ladies and gents
With regard to the democratic process, which has been mentioned quite often in this topic up to now, I would like to utter a couple of words if you please. The argument has been made (be it in jest or not) that we cannot afford the luxury of ADSL or if we use the proper terminology, broadband in our lovely country because the hungry and the poor have decided that their empty stomachs and needs should be addressed. Being the logical liberal thinker I am, I dare not pretend that I will stand in the way of such a remedy but I will however make the easy (but true) statement that we will have more people suffering hunger and economic hardship if we allow ourselves not to claw back the lost territory between us and the developing world.
We are dependent on the creation of revenue, both internally and foreign, for the economic broadening of our social stability shoulders. If we want to carry more weight, we need to muscle up. It is a very simple theory, which makes for a very difficult reality. We are living in a country with two great divides. One is the economic divide. We might have differences as to the origin of this divide but we all agree it exists. Its origin does not really matter much as the very real fact is, we have to fix it!
The second divide is the digital divide. This divide is narrowly connected to the first divide in the sense that those on the good side of the divide (being the wealthy and well educated) are the ones who are connected and those on the bad side of it (being the poor and uneducated) are not. Those on the good side increasingly need to be connected affordably and efficiently in order to further the economic progress of our country. Huge chunks of the first world economic activity exist purely in cyberspace. Information is traded and brokered virtually over high-speed networks and the average person is empowered to take part in this revolutionary trans configuration of the old steadfast business models. Even if it is for something as simple as ordering a pizza online.
It is simply insane to think that you can neglect those who are already in the right position to compete with the world for the sake of the not so fortunate. A better model would be to make sure those in a “good position” at least stay in that position if not get them in a better position whilst getting those in a “not so good position” up there with those who are. Remember that the terminology “advantaged” and “disadvantaged” were created for political reasons. You are not advantaged when you have food, a house, a car (or good public transport), a job, communication tools and safety. That is what the median should be. If you have a plane and a Ferrari, you can consider yourself advantaged.
Broadband internet cannot be considered a luxury anymore. It is becoming increasingly important as a tool to drive the economy. Especially a world economy!
In short, drive those in the “good position” by making it easier for them to compete with the rest of the world and then take the ordinary taxation (generated through their increased activities) and help the rest catch-up by for instance freeing up the labor markets and making it easier for companies to retain money needed for expansion etc.
Thanks for reading
Antowan
He who does not understand the value of war at the right time, cannot comprehend the value of life at any time - Anonymous
