Even before impeachment gained momentum, Americans overwhelmingly
agreed that our country is “on the wrong track” and disapproved of the
performance of the president and Congress. That’s largely because,
even on issues where there is broad public agreement, the legislative
and executive branches have been unable to find sensible solutions.
Exhibit A is an issue that should be about technology, not ideology:
broadband policy. Over two decades, most Americans have come to agree
about the basic principle of “net neutrality.” That’s the common sense
idea that all internet traffic must be treated equally, and no company
should be able to block or throttle online traffic in order to gain a
competitive leg up.
But still, some progressives insist on all-or-nothing over-regulation
of the internet, while some conservatives contend that the best thing
the federal government can do is nothing at all. Thus, in a textbook
case of the partisans shouting down the pragmatists, Congress has been
unable to craft consensus legislation that would make net neutrality
the law of the land and a source of certainty for consumers, startups
and internet providers.