WHAT!?!?! Businesses using the government to take money from the taxpayers? Corporatism is the new socialism... they call it capitalism, but they know it isn't. Capitalism requires people to be accountable and to take risks on innovation... that is not what this system creates... it simply creates a system of reliance on handouts...

So apparently you think that knowledge only spreads if federal dollars are included. I suppose if we raised taxes and put more money into government research then we'd have more jobs, right? Scientists do not get smarter when they work on federal projects. That talent would simply work on a different project if a grant was not given. Private organizations would hire them, and lab workers, and grad students, FUTURE SCIENTISTS, etc.). You are focusing only on the immediate consequences of federal programs, you are completely ignoring the other uses for tax dollars. Would there be more or less knowledge if that money was left with tax payers? would there be more or less jobs. Following your logic we should just tax everyone more and give more grants to "create jobs". Of course that is a fallacy, and is the result of not thinking things through. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_broken_window

Following your logic, then anyone who would trust the government to regulate the internet would have to be even dumber, as their are fewer options for politicians as their are for internet and phone options.

You need a phone, but you have a lot of options with cells, internet phone, landlines. I live in a small town and have access to 9 wireless carriers, i can use voip and i can get a landline. For internet I can use 4 of those wireless providers, cable, broadband and we even have a wireless internet option. There is a lot of competition in the communication industry. There is little competition in government. I vote with my dollars much more often than i vote in a poll, which is why i will be switching to Verizon once they get the iPhone.