Internet and Regulation (how boring)

The internet is successful precisely because it is a capitalist venture, it is a wise investment. From the internet we learn the greatest achievements of the free market. Just look at your internet; just visualize how often you've seen a sleek, dynamic, friendly...government website? Not very often if you're anything like me, you've been frustrated (to say the least) by a whole array of government services in your lifetime. Think about it, whether it's the DMV or road repair, you've surely seen the shortcomings of government services. Like the DMV, I go to government websites because I have to, not because I want to. The reason the internet is so great is because it’s not full of government websites. They’re hard to find, ask anyone who’s tried to find an actual government website. It’s easy to find a business on the internet, right? Want pizza? Go online and order the pizzas. Want to hear the latest music and download it without the hassle of a CD? Go to iTunes, ON THE INTERNET. When it comes to competition, the government can’t compete on the web. Anyone who’s used the internet knows.

We have the speed, the power and the capabilities to navigate the world like never before because of private money. The internet has been a boon to anyone who wants to make money. Whether that's a guy running a porn website (sorry, they are profitable), or a banker who is investing in an online trade company, there's a lot of money to be made on the internet. I argue that this is a result of a highly profitable business and a minimum amount of regulation. Think about it. Haven't you ever heard anyone complain that regulation can't keep up with the speed of the internet technology turnover? That's because, like most any other business pre-regulation, the internet is profitable. If they are profitable, people want a piece, and that means investment (wouldn’t you like to own a successful business?), investment in the growth and success of that industry. We saw it as early as the Industrial Revolution; there was exponential growth in England and later in America. We saw it in our steel and oil industries. It's usually a good idea that a technology is going to stagnate when you see increased regulation. I can't tell you if they are beginning to increase regulation and laws against internet activity, but I can tell that if they are, that internet technology drive will slow dramatically.

With growth always comes prosperity, people are happy. They are being compensated for their work and they are allowed to trade their own goods for things (material wealth). Why is that so bad? As with all industries, there will be more regulation on the internet. That can be assured. The encroachment on this growth in internet trade and commerce will surely slow down and discourage investment. This doesn't give an internet company the capital they need to expand. Once expansion slows, this discourages even more capital investment, and so on until a new equilibrium is met, at a far lower standard. This is why investments move overseas to more profitable ventures. Costs are not heavily regulated, and simply, investment and business are more profitable. See an Asian skyscraper lately? They're pretty tall and took a lot of work to build. You think those construction workers were working for free? Would you?

Like it or not, we are human; we are greedy. To deny this is a waste of time and energy. We have a chance to be able to trade with one another while not necessarily trusting each other. The internet gives us that perfect opportunity; I believe most companies have benefited from the internet. This tech growth has been for the most part a boon (sorry tech boom & bust). It has revealed a side of people most wouldn't have imagined twenty years ago (Porn growth, no pun intended). That side is revealed and it is profitable, sorry, vice sells. If we can get past ourselves and not encourage moral regulation and suffocate a business, one that employs real people, then we can actually see the real gifts of capitalism: Prosperity, Wealth, Freedom. All these things can be ours, let's just hope the internet can be the rare survivor of a regulation onslaught. I'm sure it's going to be ugly so enjoy it while it's good. It may not be so good tomorrow.

It may be bad, but it's the best we've got! I'm just happy I can write this and not expect thugs to break down my door and arrest me for crimes against the State. Phew!