FC: Geeks in government? A bad idea: Geeks should write code, not laws

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

http://news.com.com/2010-1071-949275.html?tag=politech

   Geeks in government: A good idea?
   By Declan McCullagh 
   August 12, 2002, 4:00 AM PT

   WASHINGTON--There's a lot for a politically aware geek to be alarmed
   about nowadays.
   
   Big companies are wielding copyright threats to stifle legitimate
   security research. Hollywood is itching to hack your PC. Your privacy
   is vanishing as fast as Al Gore's 2004 presidential hopes. And the
   merry band of technophobes in Congress is just getting started.
   
   Too often, though, programmers, system administrators and other IT
   pros become understandably outraged by the latest attempts to restrict
   technology--and react by doing precisely the wrong thing. They set up
   irate Web sites, launch online petition drives and tell all their
   friends to write to their congressional representatives.
   
   Here's the bitter truth: These efforts are mostly a waste of time.
   Sure, they may make you feel better, but they're not the way to win.

   [...]



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