With the recent demise of all but one Free Internet Service Provider (and that one will be gone soon as well), I have come to a terrible realization that ISPs aren't seeing. Families with lower income levels will no longer be able to connect to the Internet. This isn't right, everybody should have a chance to connect to the net, regardless of their household income.

These families relied on the Free ISPs, and now that they are gone, will miss out on the mass quantity of information known as the Internet. By not having this resource at their disposal, they are at a distinct disadvantage in school, work, finding higher paying jobs, and much more. This will keep them at the bottom of the pile while elevating higher income families further to the top.

I think this is where the government should step in. The Feds known everyone's income level, and therefore, should provide free Internet access to those with incomes below a certain level. After all, The united States of America is the richest country in the world, it can spare a little bit of that wealth to help out it's own citizens.

Some of you I'm sure are thinking "If they did that, then my taxes would shoot through the roof." I doubt it. The number of people with low incomes that actually have a computer is quite low. And if companies like AT&T can charge $5/month for internet access, the government can provide access for free to those select few. In fact, by rough estimates, it would cost the average American about 5 cents a year to support a program such as this.

However, not every country has enough money to provide a free Internet access system. Each country would have to come up with some way to implement a plan such as this. Some countries would decide to avoid this service, but that would be their choice. Maybe we could get a worldwide free Internet access system going....yeah right.

But, maybe the government doesn't have to intervene. Maybe some current ISPs would pick this up as a way of securing potential customers. They could have some kind of agreement to offer free Internet access as long as they promise to use the Net to help their selves out of that income bracket. Then, after they do rise to a middle income household, they could then be charged for Internet access.

But, that might not work out either. Maybe some rich dude will be visited by three ghosts, and decide he needs to get his act together, and start handing out free internet service. Maybe the phone companies can offer it. Maybe, maybe, maybe. There are so many possibilities.

Some day, some time, someone with power will figure this out, and the world will be a better place because of it. Less poverty, more jobs filled, and a better economy. Not to mention the happiness of millions of people. Free Internet access on earth and goodwill to Mac users!