You error is in assuming that this is due to corruption,
  rather than due to Republicans' philosophical belief that
  minimal regulation and free markets are better [1].

I think people find this hard to believe, as it requires one of two things; either (a) they are aware of the impacts of giving monopolies expanded powers to extract economic rent without productive action, but they believe repealing net neutrality will be good for the country; or (b) they have somehow got elected to public office without knowledge of that impact, despite the fact I've seen it taught to first-year undergraduates in economics, politics and history courses; and they will have received briefs and letters informing them about it.