We won't be fooled again. Right?

Several years ago a proposal to establish a fiber optic network that would provide telephone, Internet and cable television service through an intergovernmental agreement between Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles was placed on the ballot. Immediately after the proposal, as I recall, the rumors and innuendos began to fly.

Comcast representatives were at the Geneva train station passing out free coffee and fliers that listed all the supposed reasons that this should not be passed. The rumors were that service wouldn't be up to par, taxpayers would be stuck with the cost, yada, yada yada.

The proposal was rejected.

Let's examine what has transpired since then. Cable rates have been raised at least twice and Comcast is now dictating that we install their equipment or risk losing some 50-plus channels that are currently received and paid for by subscribers.

The choice? There is no choice because there is no competition and we have to install the equipment or else. And I read an article recently where Comcast subscribers in Batavia are up in arms over the dictate.

Wish you hadn't listened to the naysayers and taken a chance?

Though not quite the same size in scope, I think we can draw parallels to the current debate over health care reform. The rumors, untruths and we'll all be bankrupt doomsday scenario is playing out just like those who profit from the status quo want it to. Make no mistake about it, folks, if health care reform goes down we will find ourselves in the same spot - no competition, rising costs and being dictated to by insurance companies.

Will we be fooled again?

Gary Curts

St. Charles