One of the most equalizing influences of the last 20 years has and is the internet. Rags to Riches stories abound and access to information on health, environment, governement issues and anything else you can think of, can be found on the web.

I have seen the open exchange of information on the web truly foster the principles of democracy. The health of democracy depends on the free exchange of information and all voices to be heard. It is not a perfect system but at the heart of demoncracy is that everyone has the right to make a contribution.

Keeping the power with the people that make up our society keeps our government more honest and accountable. What has made the internet so special is the information is open and available to all regardless social and economic background.

The openess of the internet has also been amazing for business. New ideas, products and opportunities have flourished because they have equal access to the public. The public decides what has value and merit and this is good for both business and consumer.

When ideas and commerse flourish based on their value to society, you get the bar continually being raised because of the natural demand in the market place.

I have also seen life saving information that may not have huge profitabiity but still make its way to the hands of those who need it because our internet is open.

Net Neutrality is a movement to protect the openess of the internet. The information channels as they currently stand are equal to all on the web regardless of power and money. In other words our open internet does not give preferencial treatment to the larger corporations beyond what their advertising can generate.

However, some large companies who contribute to the infractructure of the internet want to change all that. They would like to create a fast web for the big companies and a slow web for the small guys.

Why should you care? When you are researching on a particular subject and if the big Corporations get their way, you may not have equal access to all the information on a particular subject thus in essence sensoring the web sites and information. You as a consumer lose out because you do not have access to all the available information.

As a business owner/entrepreneur your website may not be able to be found because you do not have the advertising budget to compete for the premium space or channel on a internet that is controlled by big business.

Society loses out by less competition which leads to less innovation in the market place. We also lose out when new businesses are not given a fair or equal playing field.

Our government is more likely to be controlled by the large corporations who would control all the communication channels including in this case a closed internet. Your right to be heard and seen on the internt would all but disappear.

You can use the internet to save the internet for you and others including future generations. Make your voice heard by clicking the link below and share this informtion with everyone you know.