more on DeLay on Justice Kennedy Internet Use

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

------ Forwarded Message
From: Lauren Weinstein <lauren () vortex com>
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2005 08:36:36 -0700
To: <dave () farber net>
Cc: <lauren () vortex com>
Subject: DeLay on Justice Kennedy Internet Use


> "And not only that, but he [Justice Kennedy] said in session that he
> does his own research on the Internet? That is just incredibly
> outrageous."
>   - House Majority Leader Tom DeLay

Dave,

I can see Tom's dilemma.  The Internet is a source of effectively
infinite opinions (ranging from the insane to the sublime).  It can
provide answers to a vast array of factual questions (though many of
those answers may be incorrect).  The Net is replete with spams,
phishes, scams, frauds, pop-up ads, and (in many cases) ISPs who
view their customers mainly as sheep to be fenced in and fleeced.
The Internet has become a source of both pain and delight for its
individual users and society at large.

But the massive buffet of the Internet can't effectively do a number
of things that some politicians (of both parties) hold most dear --
trade votes for campaign cash, limit information sources to those
with fat checkbooks in hand, and perverting democracy into a bizarre
characterization of what we were taught back in civics classes.

So it's understandable that the House leader is shocked and stunned
to find a Supreme Court justice who sees fit to use the modern research
tools at his disposal, rather than letting money do the
talking -- and the voting.

--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein
lauren () pfir org or lauren () vortex com or lauren () eepi org
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800
http://www.pfir.org/lauren
Co-Founder, PFIR 
  - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
Co-Founder, EEPI 
  - Electronic Entertainment Policy Initiative - http://www.eepi.org
Moderator, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
DayThink: http://daythink.vortex.com


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