If our government shut down the Internet, there would be immediate chaos in the business world.
Internet sales would cease. Products would not be bought or sold on line. Billions would be immediately lost.
Stocks would plummet.
And the people would call for the immediate resignation of the president, the vice president and the rest of his cabinet.
GUARANTEED!
“immediate resignation” This man is not now or never will be qualified to hold the office of President. He will tear down everything that makes this country great. He is a Socialist and his agenda is ruination of all things American. He is a disgrace to America and the laughing stock of the world! Off with his head, and jail for his cabinet and all his Tsars.
“And the people would call for the immediate resignation of the president, the vice president and the rest of his cabinet.”
At the very least. Interesting that in Egypt, the government shut down their internet to (try to) diffuse the riots. Here, if the government shut down out internet, it would trigger riots.
I meant to say our internet (not out internet) :-)
Tip of the iceberg. Most credit and debit card transactions, even at brick and mortar stores, would cease. Most ATMs would cease to operate. I don't have any specific expertise, but I believe most bank traffic has switched from expensive and slow point-to-point networks to VPN over the Internet. Shutting down the Internet would shut down the majority of economic activity in the US and, indirectly, the world.
Stocks would plummet.
Stock exchanges would close, all trading would cease, and all shares would be effectively worthless for the duration.
You're underestimating the impact. Shutting down the Internet in toto, even if it's technologically feasible, which I doubt, would make the worst predictions for Y2K look like a Junior League cotillion.
BUSINESS world, hell.
Much of the government world happens online too. I know this for fact.
They are too hooked in to absorb the blow.
Thankfully this is not Eqypt on many levels. My understanding is that it would be all but impossible to shut down the internet here due to the myriad of carriers.
We also have a viable government with 3 separate divisions. If the President tried this kind of stuff here the leaders of the Congress would make a phone call to the Joint Chiefs and a cadre of Marines would show up at the Oval Office to escort our dear leader to Leavenworth.