Canada’s (almost) ‘third-world’ Internet access

[Barrister]

Or imagine a city like Toronto or Vancouver decides to not offer clean water to all citizens as a way to balance its budget.  Say from now on, only 1/4 f the city gets unlimited access to clean water for a premium, 1/4 has a quota after wich there is no more water, and the other half must install their own pumps and filtration system.

AFAIK, access to water is not a right.  You can't sue your village for not providing an aqueduct or a sewer network with a filtration system.

This is a slightly different situation.  Generally speaking, if government is going to provide a service, they need to try and ensure that all citizens can access that service.  So if you're going to provide water, you need to try and provide it to everyone.

But that doesn't mean access to water is a right.

[Razgovory]

Does the French language make a distinction between "privileges" and "rights"?

[garbon]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_water

[dps]

Government providing a service does not mean something becomes a right.

Actually, pretty much.  Once it's given, it's assumed as a right.

If true, a good argument for governments not providing any services other than those that absolutely can't be provided for otherwise.

[Josephus]

First World Rights, motherfucker.

First step in fixing the problem. Effective separation of Distribution & Retail. For Bell, Rogers, Videotron, Shaw. Everyone.

It will never happen. I envision a day not too far off when Rogers and Bell...with a bit of token support from Shaw, and maybe Videotron, will own everything in Canada.

[viper37]

'Fast porn downloads: as important to our lives as our own hips ... and water'. 

Well, in Japan they fondle boobs to fight AIDS, so we're no worst!

[viper37]

This is a slightly different situation.  Generally speaking, if government is going to provide a service, they need to try and ensure that all citizens can access that service.  So if you're going to provide water, you need to try and provide it to everyone.

Nice theory.  If only that were true, we'd all be socialists

But that doesn't mean access to water is a right.

It isn't.  In theory.  Just try cutting this service

There are rights, and there are rights.  There are fundamental human rights, and then, there are stuff people get used to: television with cable, phone, high speed internet, clean water, etc.  When you tell people you're a place where you don't have these, they look at you as if you were from the 3rd world.

[Barrister]

This is a slightly different situation.  Generally speaking, if government is going to provide a service, they need to try and ensure that all citizens can access that service.  So if you're going to provide water, you need to try and provide it to everyone.

Nice theory.  If only that were true, we'd all be socialists

But that doesn't mean access to water is a right.

It isn't.  In theory.  Just try cutting this service

There are rights, and there are rights.  There are fundamental human rights, and then, there are stuff people get used to: television with cable, phone, high speed internet, clean water, etc.  When you tell people you're a place where you don't have these, they look at you as if you were from the 3rd world.

They should try living in the north.

I mean sure - Whitehorse had everything you mention.  But once you get past Whitehorse city limits... every single one of those factors becomes more questionable.  There are people who live in places without access to a power grid (most have generators though), have no phone,, no cable (might have satellite), and the water is only as clean as the river or lake they draw it from...

[HVC]

And then your wife makes you move back to civilization

[Barrister]

And then your wife makes you move back to civilization

[crazy canuck]

And then your wife makes you move back to civilization

He moved to Edmonton

[crazy canuck]

Governments make budgets every year in which they give and take away these "rights".

and lo&behold, there are massive protests every time.  Just try to change Canada's health care law.  Or imagine a city like Toronto or Vancouver decides to not offer clean water to all citizens as a way to balance its budget.  Say from now on, only 1/4 f the city gets unlimited access to clean water for a premium, 1/4 has a quota after wich there is no more water, and the other half must install their own pumps and filtration system.

AFAIK, access to water is not a right.  You can't sue your village for not providing an aqueduct or a sewer network with a filtration system.

That is an odd reaction.  Your inital claim was that internet service at a particular level had somehow become elevated to the status of a "right".  Now you are suggesting that it is not actually a right but akin to the necessities of life such as access to medical care, clean water and sewage.

[The Brain]

I got more broadband at home than I know what to do with. But then I don't live in a Socialist hellhole.

[viper37]

That is an odd reaction.  Your inital claim was that internet service at a particular level had somehow become elevated to the status of a "right".  Now you are suggesting that it is not actually a right but akin to the necessities of life such as access to medical care, clean water and sewage.

In the minds of some people, yes, it's akin to such neccessities.  Because we have been accustomed to it.  Just like electricity.  We can live without electricity, we'd have crossbows and walk on foot

Now, communication is certainly a need, and internet is a way to communicate, juste like phone.

[Cecil]

I got more broadband at home than I know what to do with. But then I don't live in a Socialist hellhole.

Whats your current speed?

I was thinking of upgrading to one of those 250 mbit/s but decided against it since I barely tax my 100 mbit to capacity.