[Sharin]

I know, it’s nuts.

But the public utility is also a good example. The electric company can’t shut off your power because they don’t like your business.
It’s not quite as similar to the situation where the courts have ruled that private property can be a public forum, but it’s very important.

Today it is Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Gmail is also doing it. Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Apple are starting to do it. PayPal, and other formats are doing it. Some of those fall under public forum / town square use and some don’t.

[neverevergiveup]

The utilities, as businesses, evolved over time. Electricity was sold, initially, with just a ‘hook-up’ charge. Then Edison tried to charge based on the number of lamps being lit. It wasn't until the invention of the electric meter that use of electricity began being monitored accurately, and payment linked to usage.

My point is just that the internet is in a similar place at this point. It's early on in the evolution of businesses based on the internet, and there are going to have to be significant changes. I agree entirely with you that the public utility aspect of the internet has to be addressed. As it stands now, we have created an oligarchy of rich liberals who are positioned to control public discourse - at least for the short term. It must be fixed.