[Mpls] RE: Wireless Minneapolis

[Michael Atherton]

Dan McGuire wrote:

>  If internet access helps us educate our children, keeps us safer, 
>  more healthy, and generally become a better informed citizenry 
>  then it is a reasonable and appropriate function of local government 
>  like roads, sewers, parks, libraries and water supply, etc.  Yeah, 
>  we need to stay awake so that we don't by dinosaurs.

It's not that I have a major objection to wireless Internet
access (I'm sure that I'll make use of it), but it makes me
uneasy that this service only provides benefits for middle
and upper-class residents.  I don't know the statistics of
computer ownership by income level, but I'd be very surprised
if it's that high for low income families.  "If internet access 
helps us educate our children, keeps us safer, more healthy, 
and generally become a better informed citizenry" and it's
going to be subsidized by the government then it should provide 
these benefits for everyone, not just those who can afford 
computers and software.  

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park