That’s the thing about privatization that privatization advocates always miss entirely.
There’s no difference between private and government when private replaces government.
Only one thing is different.
—
Yup. Look at what happens in communities where there is no government police: Local thugs demand protection money from businesses or they will destroy them. Mafia.
—
I was 21 when this happened. 1994. A part of my soul died at that point.
https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/24/business/us-begins-privatizing-internet-s-operations.html
====
wait – 22. Doesn’t matter. I’d been online since 1989 so my first 5 years were all about this amazing global future, global science community efforts, community driven stuff, etc. But those corporate contracts and my heart just sank.
====
I was an early internet advocate — and I’m REALLY GLAD that most of the world, even the poorest parts are online now.
But it’s not the “what” but the “how”. I don’t like the how. But I think control will swing back again now that we’re all used to it. I’m hopeful.
====