Michelle Obama says internet access should be 'universal right'

Guardian ^ | March 23, 2014 | By Daniel Boffey, policy editor

[Jim Robinson]

Michelle Obama has declared that access to the internet should be a universal right, in a rare and controversial foray into the world of international politics during a cultural visit to China.

The US first lady, who is on a week-long trip to the communist state with her daughters and mother, risked upsetting her hosts in Beijing by declaring access to information as a birthright. During a speech at Peking University's Stanford Centre, she called for greater freedoms while refraining from a direct attack on the controls over information in China.

The so-called "great firewall of China" blocks access to internet sites deemed sensitive, while a vast censorship machine swiftly deletes content considered objectionable. Twitter and Facebook are both blocked.

[palmer]

No surprise since the owner of privately held Comcast is a big donor to Dems and Rinos: http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000461 Similar to how the enablers of fascism are taking over health care: http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2013/10/key-figure-at-unitedhealth-group-was-major-obama-donor.html

[Washi]

Pretty much nailed the progressive definition of “Universal Right”.

[Mycroft Holmes]

Thanks for the link. I looked at outer-net and it is a worldwide satellite. I’m currently using a satellite link for internet and it isn’t pretty. We pay a premium for 15GB/month of data with roughly 3 second latency. Nobody who is using satellite internet doesn’t want cable. Heck’o’gee, even DSL is much better.

[dsc]

“i know I didn’t provide a lot of reasoning.”

No, it was fine just as it was. A simple, declarative sentence that casts a new light on a whole line of thinking. I love it.

“I am used to posting on liberal boards”

I used to do that. Not any more. All those showers were running up the bills.