A Stitch in Haste

Philadelphia politicians continue to prove themselves immune to economic reasoning, and common sense, by forging ahead with their plans to provide "free" (which of course means taxpayer-subsidized) wi-fi Internet access: (WSJ -$)

"Our goal is to ensure that all neighborhoods, regardless of economic status, have access to high-speed wireless," said Dianah Neff, Philadelphia's chief information officer and a board member of Wireless Philadelphia Inc., a nonprofit organization created by the city to implement the project.

Of course, the question of how exactly "all neighborhoods, regardless of economic status," (i.e., the poor) are supposed to acquire wireless-ready laptops remains unanswered.

It seems to me the poor have better things to worry about than having "free" wireless Internet access.

This is the Politics of the Warm Fuzzy Feeling on steroids.