[Political Junkie Too]

The question in the United States is whether these cables are government laid or private company laid.

If these are private and owned by corporations, then Obama's declaration that the "internet" is a utility to be federally regulated amounts to a 5th amendment taking. He's either taking the servers, storage, and cables outright and nationalizing them, or he needs to pay fair price for the property takings.

If he is 5th amendment taking for "public use," he should be sued in court to explain that use. I bet in that case, the Kelo case would come back to haunt us, as that ruling transformed "public use" into "public good." Public use meant direct use, as in a highway, school, or civic building. Public good meant indirect use, as in the tax benefits of other owners using the property in allegedly more profitable ways.

Obama will claim public good of a nationalized internet, but won't pay a dime for taking control of private assets.

-PJ

[NYer]

The question in the United States is whether these cables are government laid or private company laid.

AFAIK, these cables have been laid by private communication companies. Learn More.

[Sequoyah101]

We are all government laid, so to speak. The cables get better treatment though.