Net Neutrality Regulations and the Death of the Republic

Obama has made it clear that the net neutrality question could be settled without Congress. By executive order, you say? Nope. Even worse—by bureaucratic regulations:

The White House on Thursday said legislation was not necessary to settle so-called net neutrality rules because the Federal Communications Commission had the authority to write them.

Republicans in Congress are trying to drum up support for a bill that would counter the FCC’s upcoming new rules. The Obama administration’s comments, while not entirely rebuffing the legislative effort, could make some Democrats wary of joining it.

“In terms of legislation, we don’t believe it’s necessary given that the FCC has the authorities that it needs under Title II,” a White House official told Reuters. “However, we always remain open to working with anyone who shares the president’s goal of fully preserving a free and open internet now and into the future.”

Which is just another way of saying, “We’ll work with absolutely anyone  on net neutrality who will do exactly and only what we tell them to do.”

Though it may not seem like it, FCC regulations are actually even worse than executive action. Why? Because the FCC has no elected officials. None. All five of the FCC commissioners are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The voters have no control over them and no power to vote them out of office. Legislation by bureaucracy is a sure sign that the Republic the Founding Fathers envisioned is decidedly dead. This is taxation without representation, when our taxes go to create structures and regulations over which we have absolutely no control.

Tell me: what does it matter who is in Congress or who is President or who is in the judiciary if the most important rules that affect our lives are being written and enforced by an untouchable oligarchy of bureaucrats?

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