Socialist from UC?

I knew Nancy Zimpher wasn't good for UC, I just didn't realize that she might have socialists on the faculty in the (at least formerly) well respected College of Business. (To her credit he could have been there before.)

Craig Froehle, apparently a Ph.D. in business from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, responded to my article about City Wi-Fi "Public Web access is crucial need for Cincinnati" stating:

"There will ultimately be those who wrongly claim that governments should not be in the "business" of Internet access ("City doesn't need to be in Wi-Fi business," May 19). These small-government types may also question the wisdom of publicly built/operated roads, street lights, water and sewer systems, emergency services and many other essentials that our governments provide or oversee."

I guess I fail to see how Internet service, when it is already widely available in Cincinnati with all of that "evil" competition, is a "vital city service". Unfortunately running multiple water systems, road systems, street lights, and sewer systems in one city isn't feasible, as I'm sure "Dr." Craig Froehle realizes in his boiler plate socialist-style response to "small government types". What he failes to mention is that THERE ALREADY EXISTS no fewer than 5 companies providing high speed internet access to Cincinnati ranging in cost from $19.99 to $59.99 a month. Not to mention that there already exists city-wide high speed wireless Internet access from 2 companies (Sprint and Verizon).

Froehle claims that it is our "Essential civic responsibility" to provide everyone who works or lives in the city Internet access. I ask, is it also our responsibility to provide everyone with computers? How about a cell phone since it is immoral to force people to place phone calls from the confines of their home? Why not provide everyone a car since it is unfair that we don't have $100 million 4 mile loop for streetcars? Maybe we should provide people health care (oh wait that's already in process). Gee, something sounds a lot like "To each according to their need.". WHAT isn't mentioned is how that is paid for, hint, "From each according to their ability". If that isn't Socialism, then I don't know what is. (Yes there is some sarcasm in this paragraph).

If this is the sort of thing being taught at a business school at the University of Cincinnati, and other colleges, I feel we are in for a long and sad road towards Socialism in this country. The death of the American Dream, where hard work, not loud whining, gives everyone the opportunity to be as successful as they want to be.

In response to Cincinnati's proposed Wi-FI plans.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer: "City readies for Wi-Fi"

I had to respond to this with a letter to the editor. Since Cincinnati already has High Speed Cable, DSL, Broadband over powerline, and wireless EVDO high speed data plans available from no fewer then 5 companies, it seemed dubious that there was a "need" for city-wide Wi-Fi". It got published:

City doesn't need to be in Wi-Fi business

We live in one of the most connected cities in the nation. We have cable broadband internet, we have DSL from the telephone companies, we have broadband over power lines from Current (Duke), we already have city-wide DSL like speed broadband wireless access from Sprint with their EVDO rev A network, and Verizon with their EVDO network. Sprint has a service called WiMax coming soon that will provide better than broadband speeds. We have wireless hot spots throughout the city without a dime of public money spent.

If the city wants to use a wireless data network to "improve their workers' productivity," give them a wireless broadband card from Sprint or Verizon. It will be far more economical in the long run, allow for upgrades to the latest and greatest technology, and be supported by those that are in the business of providing wireless data and voice services. You can even make city vehicles roaming "hot spots" for city workers with these EVDO cards.

The role of government is to protect its people. Well, here the government should protect its people from a plan that would create a government agency to provide outdated services to the public run by bureaucrats that haven't the slightest clue about the latest and greatest technology, all for a cost that will be far greater than anyone expects. Municipal Wi-Fi is just another boondoggle, just another way to spend taxpayer money to subsidize an outdated technology and create a new governmental agency.


Buying the services from those in the business to provide them at a profit will cost all of us less money in the long run. They know what they are doing, they have the technology available now, and they spread the cost amongst millions of users.

This money would be much better spend on police officers to patrol the streets so that, maybe someday, we could actually walk them without fear, and be able to enjoy one of the city's hundreds of already in place hot-spots.