Just so I understand: The posts here today seem to indicate that the US "controls" the internet. By that, are y'all saying that if "we" (the US) decided one day to pull the plug on the net, internet service in all countries would go dark? Do we really have that kind of control? I've always thought of the net as being something like the world's postal systems. That's to say you can mail a letter from the US to Germany but the USPS only gets the letter as far as the German border and then the Deutsche Reichpost or Bundestpost takes it from there whether the USPS continues to function or not. Patrick

The VP of engineering at my previous employer came home from a trip to China last year and swore they were going to be the next World Superpower, eclipsing the US, in the coming decade (of course he was there to oursource some of that company's manufacturing!). He commented that Shanghai was far and away the most modern city in the world he'd ever seen. There are some very disturbing trends in the US, with enrollment waning in Engineering and science-related college majors, outsourcing up for almost any and every job imaginable to overseas companies to fatten executive wallets (as if they needed any fattening), and the clear emphasis on Engineering competency supported and subsidized from foreign governments like India and China that are likely to leave this country in the technological dust if something doesn't happen to change the current course we are on. "Who owns the 'Net" will likely be the least of our worries before too long. And let's face it, no need to vilify the French or the UN -- there are many politicians and special interest groups right here at home that have already expressed interest in taxing the Internet if only we'd let them. --- Michael Carnes <michaelcarnes@earthlink.net> wrote:

While I don't disagree with many of Robert's points (although I don't have the reflexive dislike of the French that seems to be popular these days), one shouldn't think of the U.S. as completely innocent in this. Our own government has made several attempts over recent years to have access to private emails and various personal transactions on the net--things that are none of their damned business--and U.S. "control" of the net makes it considerably simpler to force implementation of this intrusiveness.

Yeah, Chirac and various other boogeymen may see the net as some sort of golden goose, but business and private individuals alike won't let those wacky taxation schemes happen.

And it is simple chauvinism to assume that all technological innovation comes from the U.S. My own company--American owned, but with engineering centers all over the U.S. and Europe--puts me in daily contact with engineers from Germany, Switzerland, England, France, Italy, etc--and I can assure you that there are bright and innovative people all over the world. The world has caught up with us (or we've slowed down to them). Internet penetration is considerably deeper in many parts of Europe than it is here. There's a chance that we might just have something to learn if we tone down the rah-rah business a little.

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There has been much talk and effort by various countries and international bodies about wresting control of the Internet from the US.

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