Quote of the Day

"Net neutrality is Obamacare for the Internet"
-- Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)

Net neutrality is a convoluted subject that take more turns to explain and understand properly than most anything other than quantum physics.  But the short, simplistic version is that it says that the Internet should be kept the way it is, free of restrictions for everyone, with all data treated equally, rather than allowing corporate providers to create different levels of service, with different speeds available at different prices, and access filtered out under certain conditions depending on content, user, site or other matters.

If you're still scratching your head what Ted Cruz is talking about, perhaps his spokesperson Amanda Carpenter can clear things up in her tweet -- "Net neutrality puts gov't in charge of determining pricing, terms of service, and what products can be delivered. Sound like Obamacare much?"

Hmm, alas, sorry, no, that doesn't sound like Obamacare much.  For starters, it's the FCC that puts the government in charge of such things, which it has been been -- not just for the Internet, of course, but all telecommunications.  And what net neutrality does is remove restrictions.

The oul-only way this sounds like "Obamacare' is that its a policy for providing lower cost service and open access for everyone.  Other than that..well, no, it doesn't sound like Obamacare much.  It doesn't sound either like Ms. Carpenter or Ted Cruz have much of an idea what they're talking about.

On the other hand, I do find something whimsical how those on the right have taken "Obamacare" to be such an encompassing descriptive term, most especially given how contradictory that interpretation is.  Much as the Ted Cruzes of the world want to see only the public hating the program full-stop, reality shows that the country is not only divided on its support, but 75% of people actually like the coverage they get from it. 

As a result, the term is not inherently the woeful negative those on the far right think it is.  Depending on your focus, throw in the phrase, "Obamacare," and a whole lot of people can see it as far better than some might otherwise think.

Hate the Affordable Care Act?

Well, then, raising the Debt Ceiling is the Obamacare of fiscal responsibility.

Extremely happy about the coverage you get from the Affordable Care Act?

Great, because raising the Debt Ceiling is the Obamacare of fiscal responsibility.

Despise the Affordable Care Act?

The Dream Act is the Obamacare of immigration.

Love the Affordable Care Act?

The Dream Act is the Obamacare of immigration.

Ultimately, of course, I think it's best to simply note that the Affordable Care Act is the Obamacare of the health industry.

And Ted Cruz is the Obamacare of U.S. Senate....