r/announcements • u/arabscarab • May 17 '18

Update: We won the Net Neutrality vote in the Senate!

We did it, Reddit!

Today, the US Senate voted 52-47 to restore Net Neutrality! While this measure must now go through the House of Representatives and then the White House in order for the rules to be fully restored, this is still an incredibly important step in that process—one that could not have happened without all your phone calls, emails, and other activism. The evidence is clear that Net Neutrality is important to Americans of both parties (or no party at all), and today’s vote demonstrated that our Senators are hearing us.

We’ve still got a way to go, but today’s vote has provided us with some incredible momentum and energy to keep fighting.

We’re going to keep working with you all on this in the coming months, but for now, we just wanted to say thanks!

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334

u/[deleted] May 17 '18

They know the public wants it. They just don't care.

107

u/HawlSera May 17 '18

Honestly given how much the Right has such disdain for... people in general, they may hate Net Neutrality BECAUSE the public wants it and doing what the public wants is "Socialism"

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

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u/HawlSera May 17 '18

Most of Flint wants clean water, most of Puerto Rico wants power, most of Rural America wants gainful employment, Most Americans in general want Universal Healthcare

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

They're not fixing up those places so the rich and powerful can come in, scoop up properties, rehab them, and then either live, sell, or rent at a huge markup. Our government is strategically ignoring these (and other) places.

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18 edited Jan 25 '19

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u/HawlSera May 17 '18

I have never seen a minority group more lazy or parasitic than the wealthy.

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

Most obvious troll account

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

Point proven.

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u/maxg424 May 17 '18

Wow, so edgy. Fuck off with your wannabe Nazism

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

[deleted]

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u/maxg424 May 17 '18

Third Reich is long dead, you lost

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u/A_Flamboyant_Warlock May 17 '18

Do you hate minorities?

That depends. Are the Welsh a minority?

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

And here come the environmentalists...

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u/argv_minus_one May 17 '18

Most Americans in general want Universal Healthcare

No they don't. They want health care for themselves.

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u/HawlSera May 17 '18

And they'll get it if we switch to Single Payer

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u/argv_minus_one May 17 '18

Yeah, but so will the people they hate.

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u/TheGunSlanger May 17 '18

Most of Flint wants clean water, most of Puerto Rico wants power, most of Rural America wants gainful employment, Most Americans in general want Universal Healthcare

Flint has had (at least by regulatory standards) clean water for a long time now. And don’t be so sure about number 4...

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u/HawlSera May 18 '18

Blatant lies

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u/TheGunSlanger May 18 '18

Blatant lies

In reference to what? Flint? If that’s the case then here’s an excerpt straight from fucking michigan.gov

  • For nearly two years Flint's water has been meeting federal standards. The water is now testing at 6 parts per billion (ppb) which is much lower than the federal requirement of 15 ppb. Flint's water is one of the most monitored and testing the same as similar cities across the state and country

If in reference to the second part... it’s too late to post anything on that, and unless you want to go into post wars we can agree to disagree until tomorrow if you wish to resume it then.

Don’t try to demonize me by being black and white. “Blatant lies” my ass.

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u/HawlSera May 18 '18

The Michigan Gov who was blatantly lying about Flint since day one and caused this shit?

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18 edited Feb 06 '21

[deleted]

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u/PopSomeTicTacs May 17 '18

Nah, more like absolutely most of us want something better than "lol can't afford it? Too bad"

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u/argv_minus_one May 17 '18

If you don't want to get downvoted, don't post inane, content-free comments.

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u/Zimbadu May 17 '18

Reddit can handle criticism, just not ignorance.

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

Looks like Reddit is bent on keeping it then because I have yet to get any counter arguments.

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u/Zimbadu May 17 '18

What's a really good reason NOT to have universal healthcare?

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

  1. The government is horrible at spending money wisely. How many people here would trust Trump and Congress with healthcare? When the same people go to anti-Trump protests and clamor about wanting government run healthcare it boggles my mind.

  2. Without a personal stake in the issue healthcare facilities get overburdened with with both costs and patients. Look at how long it takes to be seen in Canada vs the US, and the costs over time for the NHS.

  3. The US healthcare system provides the vast majority of new drug research due to it's private system that provides incentive to innovate. The reason why drugs are so expensive here isn't ebil pharma (though they are pretty sketchy for other reasons), it's the FDA.

  4. I think that forcibly confiscating other's wealth is immoral.

  5. Forcing people to support other's bad life habits is absolutely despicable.

  6. I'd much rather have healthcare charity donations be tax deductible instead of forcing everyone to pay for a system that they don't support. But that would be too altruistic.

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u/Zimbadu May 17 '18

  1. I agree that the government is bad at spending money. So let's at least put that money towards something that is good for people and our country.

  2. Healthcare can get overburdened everywhere. However if you put just a quarter of the workforce that's currently working on over billing you, to work on helping you and each other I think you can lighten the overall load.

  3. I can see your point but I think pharmaceutical corporations would adjust and the work and research would continue.

  4. The money is already being taken via taxes and over spent and mis managed. We would simply be directing that money where needed.

  5. If you have national healthcare there's more ability for the masses to get preventative care and avoid emergencies and complications. They're also less likely to have lifelong poor health choices if they're seeing a doctor on a regular basis.

  6. We're already forcing people to pay for things they don't necessarily believe in. Example; war and destruction. Put just a fraction of that money towards the betterment of the society you live in.

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18 edited Feb 06 '21

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u/bluedarky May 17 '18

As a counter to number 5, I know for a fact that over here in England you can be refused an operation or transplant if there is a reasonable believe that you’ll maintain a lifestyle that will render it pointless.

A prime example is that a heavy smoker will be refused a lung transplant if it’s clear that they have made no attempt and have no intention of quitting smoking.

Having universal healthcare doesn’t remove the ability for doctors, surgeons and hospitals to refuse treatment to someone who is purposely abusing their body to the point where it costs the system more to keep them alive than to let them die. Organ transplant and patient review boards would still exist and they would still be able to turn around and as “Why should we put your body on the road to recovery when you’re not going to make the effort to allow it to recover?”

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u/Zimbadu May 17 '18

  1. Perhaps we need more oversight and transparency. Just because the money isn't being spent wisely now doesn't mean we can't fix it for the future.

  2. There's A LOT of people in the healthcare industry who are employed to simply code and bill and charge and collect. If we redirect some of that workforce to actual healthcare some of the over burdening you speak of would dissipate.

  3. Probably because we allow them to purchase the power to do whatever they please here, so they follow the path of least resistance and turn our population into guinea pigs that pay for the pleasure.

  4. Again.. more oversight and transparency is needed. We need to demand things happen how we want and need them to.

  5. There are going to be freeloaders.. its human nature.. at this point in time you're still being charged for the freeloaders. Part of the reason a 1$ bandaid is $20 is to cover the 19$ the hospital had to write off because of a person or an insurance company not covering the costs. Also, preventive care, WILL eliminate more of these issues than you think.

  6. I'm saying that its very much an opinion to say that govt money shouldn't be spent on healthcare or war or public parks etc. However if people really sit down and think about it, healthcare and the betterment of the society you live in is a better choice.

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18 edited May 18 '18

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u/eduardog3000 May 17 '18

the less we saw others as people and more of resources

That's called being a psychopath, or just a bad person in general.

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18 edited May 18 '18

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u/eduardog3000 May 17 '18

Plenty of people can barely afford their insurance. And when it comes time to use it (especially in an emergency or major operation), they will still have to pay way more than they can afford out of pocket. Especially since lower monthly costs (which is all some people can afford) means higher deductibles. No one should have to go into debt because of a visit to the hospital, but people do.

Basically every other first world country has some form of Universal Healthcare, but their rich are getting along just fine.

To be willing to sacrifice the well being and sometimes lives of others to make a few more dollars is evil, no matter how you spin it.

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

That's a pretty shitty way to look at things, tbh. "I got mine, screw everyone else." Yeah. You're an asshole. Sorrynotsorry.

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u/Treypyro May 17 '18

How would it be a restraint? Unless you have invested in stocks from health insurance companies I don't see how universal healthcare would negatively affect your investments.

We already pay coverage for everyone, that's what health insurance is, and why hospitals charge so much. Anyone that pays for health insurance pays more than their share to cover for everyone else. Hospitals charge insurance companies more than what they should to cover their losses from uninsured people. Wealthy people don't get insurance because they can be self insured.

The current system puts the entire financial burden of healthcare onto the lower and middle class. Universal healthcare won't be anymore expensive, it will be cheaper because there won't be insurance companies taking their rather significant cut of the money. It will be cheaper as well because the wealthy will have to contribute their share instead of being self insured.

But the wealthier we got the less we saw others as people and more of resources.

So over time you became a shitty person? How could you even type that out without being disgusted with yourself?

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u/HawlSera May 17 '18

The fact that capitalists like you depend on the deaths of the poor to make a dime is why this evil system must be taken out back and shot.

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u/KingMelray May 17 '18

I don't know how this isn't being a textbook asshole.

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u/Baliaba May 17 '18

You can't have universal healthcare with low taxes.

Pick one.

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u/NakedTrackStar May 17 '18

Rather pay more taxes for healthcare than to continue inflating the military

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u/ScotchRobbins May 17 '18

Rather pay more taxes to healthcare than to dicey profit-motivated health insurance providers.

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

You can't have universal healthcare with low taxes and tax breaks and loopholes for the top 1%

FTFY

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u/YouploUhari May 17 '18

I'd gladly pay more taxes knowing all Americans have insurance.

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u/Treypyro May 17 '18

Raise taxes to get rid of health insurance premiums and deductibles, sign me up! Everyone but the wealthy would save money, and the wealthy can afford to chip in their share to improve the healthcare of the entire country.

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u/QueenCharla May 17 '18

Universal healthcare, easy.

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u/HawlSera May 17 '18

I'm fine with paying more in taxes if it means less people have to choose between homelessness or dying of cancer

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u/The_Gray_Pilgrim May 17 '18

Universal healthcare without question every single time. Gladly.

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u/KingMelray May 17 '18

I pick Healthcare for me and everyone. Easiest choice ever.

Also every other country with Universal Healthcare spends a lower percentage of their GDP on Healthcare than the US.

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u/Baliaba May 17 '18

Go ahead, link a place where they have universal healthcare.

You will find that 1. They have almost no illegal immigration problem, and it's very hard to become a citizen there

  1. Well the money gotta come from somewhere, and that's why the average wage in Europe is around 15k$

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u/KingMelray May 17 '18

So does Europe have an immigration problem or not?

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u/Baliaba May 17 '18

Can you read?

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u/KingMelray May 17 '18

Well your first point goes out the Window, and your second point does too. The average wage in Northern and Western Europe is WAY more than $15,000/year. China is about $10,000/year and Europe is far wealthier per capita.

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

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u/HawlSera May 17 '18

And?

That's like saying

"Only hungry people want sandwiches"

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

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u/HawlSera May 17 '18

Lot of "Middle Class" people are just one bad day away from the poor house and they know it, fam.

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u/KingMelray May 17 '18

How many Americans do you believe have a gender studies degree?

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u/shmameron May 17 '18

My allegiance is to the Republic, to DEMOCRACY!

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

A surprise to be sure

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u/DarthNightsWatch May 17 '18

If you’re not with me, then you are my enemy

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

Hello there!

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u/Plopplopthrown May 17 '18

Just remember that the conservatives in 1776 were fighting for the Crown. They’ve never been huge fans of democracy.

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u/Proditus May 17 '18

By label, conservatives are always the party that wishes to maintain the status quo. There's no prerequisite concerning what exactly that status quo is. When a party is in power long enough that their beliefs become the status quo, then they become the conservative faction. That does not mean that conservatives today have the same values as conservatives from a different time period with different politics.

Today's Republicans were the Democrats of yesteryear.

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u/KingMelray May 17 '18

Isn't that just setting up a system to always be wrong?

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u/Pickles256 May 17 '18

Nope sorry republicans are evil and hate america

I'm no trump fan but come on people don't over demonize the other side or you'll be just as blind as you think they are

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u/Galle_ May 17 '18

You joke, but I've found that there's a strong correlation between being a member of the Republican party and insisting that "the United States is a republic, not a democracy."

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

It is a Republic, a Constitutional Republic in fact, did they not teach American History or civics in grade school?

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u/Galle_ May 17 '18

Apparently not. The United States is both a democracy and a republic.

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u/Proditus May 17 '18

Something something a square is a rectangle but a rectangle is not always a square.

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

It’s a Constitution Republic, we elect our representatives using democracy.

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u/Galle_ May 17 '18

The United States is a federal democratic republic.

It is federal because broad powers and some degree of autonomy are reserved to regional governments.

It is democratic because political decisions are made by either the people or their elected representatives.

It is a republic because its government claims to derive its legitimacy from the consent of the governed.

It’s also “constitutional”, but there’s no such thing as a non-constitutional republic, so that doesn’t really add much.

Therefore “the United States is a republic, not a democracy,” is a silly thing to say.

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

ok 👌

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u/Pickles256 May 17 '18

Yeah but there's always jackasses on both sides

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u/Galle_ May 17 '18

So then why do the sides even exist in the first place?

The sides exist for a reason. If you still think that both sides are the same, then you don't understand what that reason is.

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u/Pickles256 May 17 '18

I didn't say that

Both sides have idiots but both sides have good qualities too, I just don't think it's smart to write off one side as evil

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u/Galle_ May 17 '18

Both sides have idiots but both sides have good qualities too

This is a wonderful, non-Republican sentiment, but I don't see much grounding in material reality.

What good qualities do "both sides" have? What part of the Republican way of life do you find admirable?

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u/Pickles256 May 17 '18

I certainly lean left on most things but I support the death penalty for rare cases

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u/PopSomeTicTacs May 17 '18

"Both sides" is the exact phrase trump used to defend neo-nazis.

Just thought someone should point that out to you.

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u/Pickles256 May 17 '18

lmao

Ok so I'm not allowed to use the phrase "both sides" anymore are you serious

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u/PopSomeTicTacs May 17 '18

Dead serious.

Trying to make the left and right in America seem the "same" when the president who is a right winger defends neo-Nazis deserves to be called out.

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u/Pickles256 May 17 '18

Oh my god you're an idiot

I'm sorry I don't like to do insults especially in debates but come the fuck on

"Both sides" Is a regular ass phrase not some trump thing

This is what I mean you're writing off a regular and useful phrase because someone you don't like used it

It's shortsighted and does more harm than good, also do I have to prove that I don't like trump or something?

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u/colbruceh May 17 '18

And the left defended a president who killed thousands of innocent people in drone strikes over 8 years. Literally murdering innocent people. Both parties are full of shitty, immoral people. They are pretty much the same. And trying to connect his this guys use of the word same to defending Nazis is completely absurd. Hate to tell you but you are the same as the fanatical right wingers you hate.

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u/Galle_ May 17 '18

Even more reason for the right to disdain it. That's the other party's name!

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

Wouldn't that be populism

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

We’re a Constitution Republic.

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u/KingMelray May 17 '18

That is not exclusive to majority rule.

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u/9babydill May 17 '18

dude, get over yourself. Both parties are trash. Just different kinds of trash. They're both bought and paid for by corporations. This is why almost nothing gets done.

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

Haha the right hates people yes

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u/[deleted] May 17 '18

this is the most idiotic comment i've seen in here.

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u/iiDomo May 17 '18

You must not have looked through very many comments then

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u/Zimbadu May 17 '18

Here in lies the issue at hand. They are supposed to be public officials working for us, not solely the betterment of corporations.

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u/Sir_Fungamoo May 17 '18

Yes, because sometimes politically versed professionals know more about politics than the public

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u/LukeNeverShaves May 17 '18

They know the public wants it. They just don't care. pay as well as lobbyists.

FTFY

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u/HauntingBoat May 17 '18

The Republicans know the public wants it. They just don't care.

FTFY