Astroturf

Net Neutrality is a principle that is focused on preserving a free internet, one not controlled or censored by large cable and phone corporations. Net Neutrality would insure a fast, affordable and open internet for all. Net Neutrality would protect users from the unfair practices of "blocking, speeding up or slowing down Web content based on its source, ownership, or destination." (For a great video on the subject and more information go here.)

Sounds reasonable, right?

Not to all. Some- it's probably pretty obvious who- are rallying the fake grassroots organization troops, the 500 plus Washington lobbyists and using Cold War rhetoric that we've all heard quite a bit these past few weeks. "See the New America Foundation's manifesto on "Saving the Information Commons" to grasp the enormity of their plans for socializing the Internet. " writes Scott Cleland, author of The Precursor Blog and of Netcompetion.org. Cleland also protests the supporters of Net Neutrality's call for internet to be commonaly owned property, deeming it a "radical agenda."

Those who share Cleland's views explain that Net Nuetrality is not plausible in economic terms. That sources of funding in media should not be transparent. The Hartland Institute for example, "now keeps confidential the identities of all our donors". Those opposed to Net Nuetrality most likely agree with Cleland's bottomline: With freedom comes responsibility to protect freedom from those who seek to take it away.

Strong words, but the truth is this: Cleland and other "astroturfers" (fake grassroot organization advocates) are paid by the phone and coporation companies to sway and confuse the public opinion with misinformation. Again, as we've seen in these past weeks with the brouhaha over health care reform, the puppets have become the puppet masters, and we just can't afford to be manipulated within these important issues.

Educate yourself!
Read Timothy Kerr's Huffingtion Post article "Unmasking Astroturfers"
Revisit, or read for the first time The New York Times Op-ed "Beware the New New Thing" by Damian Kulash Jr. Lead Singer of OK Go.
Check out: www.freepress.net, www.savetheinternet.com, and savethenews.org