I love my iPad, but I'm not sold on the environmental benefits of replacing textbooks with electronic devices. Don't they take a considerable toll on the environment to manufacture? I mean, there's the mining of all the components of the metal and plastic, melting it down, pouring it into molds, and shipping all of…

Is it just me, or are the iOS apps decreasing in quality every week? Personally, I think this crop of apps is mediocre at best. I'm not criticizing Giz by the way - you can't report on whats not there.

@Smurfette's dropkick: The government can't be run like a private industry because they have conflicting interests. The government is required to provide the best possible environment for its citizens, regardless of cost. A government has to care for its least wealthy people as well as its richest people. Corporations…

@F1ackM0nk3y: Everyone gives money for this, including LegacyCrono. It's called taxes. That's how the government pays for things.

@Smurfette's dropkick: Sure you are. You said that the primary reason for not doing the national broadband plan was cost. If the government were on steadier financial ground, you would therefore support the new plan, right?

@Billybird: Yeah, sorry. My bad. Good for you for admitting your mistake though, not many people do that.

@James Valentine: OK, so you were being sarcastic and criticizing yantelope for being picky with his interpretation of Congressional authority?

@NorwoodIsMyHero: Yeah, I agree.

@moonshadowkati: OK, I think I could get behind that.

@yantelope: I never said that the federal government could act outside the bounds of the Constitution. I said that if they did, it's the Supreme Court's job to declare the problem law unconstitutional.

I find it gross that they had the nerve to charge $2 for their iPhone app, but let the iPad app go for free.

@James Valentine: Congress passes most of their laws based on the interstate commerce clause. Since road building effects interstate commerce (by letting it occur), Congress absolutely has the authority to finance road building.

@yantelope: Yes, it is within their power to give tax breaks to ISPs and to otherwise give them incentives to expand broadband into rural areas. More than that, it's their job to pass bills like this one.

@yantelope: Yes, it does. It gives Congress the power to collect and write new taxes and manage the budget, to confirm various judicial and cabinet appointees, to coin money, to declare wars, and to regulate interstate commerce. Outside of that, Congress can do whatever it wants. If something they do violates the…

@CaptainJack: The funding comes with very specific stipulations, mainly that they use it for the new rural broadband. But I agree that I would be uncomfortable with government directly controlled ISPs, given the poor government record with privacy. Warrant-less wiretapping, the PATRIOT Act, and all.

@moonshadowkati: So you object to this rural broadband measure because you think the goals can be accomplished with other, better technology?

@Billybird: What? People who live paycheck to paycheck can still care about other people. No one is being forced to get broadband. The government just wants to make sure that the option is available everywhere.

@Charliehorse: Great point. We severely underpay for food, and I think that has led to a lack of caring about where said food comes from - rural areas.

@CaptainJack: You've missed the point. The government is going to give subsidies to ISPs, and then they're going to lay down the new cable. All the government is doing is making the operation more doable financially.

@That Guy: Nicely written. I agree.