RE: On Internet and social responsibility

[<measl () mfn org>]

On Sat, 15 Sep 2001, Matt Levine wrote:

> <snip>
> Aside from the impartiality issue, I do not believe that the USG has
> a constitutional right to forbid me from engaging any
> person/place/thing in an otherwise lawful transaction.
> </snip>
>
> It's nice that you don't believe it, that doesn't change the fact
> that they do have the right.  (Hint: see crypto export laws for case
> law)

The fact that a court may have ruled that this is constitutionally
permissable does not make it so, it merely makes it "legal".  Remember Jim
Crow.

-- 
Yours, 
J.A. Terranson
sysadmin () mfn org

If Governments really want us to behave like civilized human beings, they
should give serious consideration towards setting a better example:
Ruling by force, rather than consensus; the unrestrained application of
unjust laws (which the victim-populations were never allowed input on in
the first place); the State policy of justice only for the rich and 
elected; the intentional abuse and occassionally destruction of entire
populations merely to distract an already apathetic and numb electorate...
This type of demogoguery must surely wipe out the fascist United States
as surely as it wiped out the fascist Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The views expressed here are mine, and NOT those of my employers,
associates, or others.  Besides, if it *were* the opinion of all of
those people, I doubt there would be a problem to bitch about in the
first place...
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