I'm Pete du Pont with the National Center for Policy Analysis. I'm on record as the Internet's number one fan. I think we ought to take all thoughts of taxing it, tie them to a cinder block, and drop them in the ocean. I love its freewheeling, anything goes attitude.
Except Napster.
I know this sounds like a contradiction, but it isn't. The Internet is for the exchange of ideas and for doing business. It's not for the outright theft of someone else's intellectual property.
We've gone round and round with the Chinese about this kind of larceny for years. But we're all of a sudden supposed indulge Americans who want something for nothing?
Of all people, guitarist Ted Nugent turned up on the op ed page of the Wall Street Journal to agree with me. He said in part, "We invest sweat, blood and millions of dollars creating musical products. To think a third party should give away our product for zero compensation is brain-dead and un-American."
To which i say, rock on.
Those are my ideas, and at the NCPA we know ideas can change the world. I'm Pete du Pont. Next time, phase-outs.