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Many people however believe that we [read: our government(s)] are in a downward spiral that is converging on police-and-welfare-state. In the US for example, we long ago abandoned our constitution. We still give it much lip service and we still have one of the "more free" societies but things are trending in the wrong direction.
Each year more oppressive laws are passed, more things are made illegal to say or write or - if some have their way - think. (And of course it goes without saying that these things that are prohibited to us are available to "authorized users": those in intelligence, law enforcement, etc. - the usual "more equal" individuals.)
On 28 Aug 2001, at 10:42, Aimee Farr wrote:
I might understand this better than you think.
No you do not. You suggest we should not only obey all legislation that currently exists, but also legislation that does not currently exist, but that might be deemed to exist through failure of a judge to be amused, or legislation that might soon exist. This is of course completely impossible. Everyone has committed many serious crimes, often felonies, usually without ever being aware of it. I have committed hundreds of major felonies that could in theory give me many centuries of jail time, without ever doing anything dishonest, or doing anything particularly unusual for a respectable middle class person. Most companies I have worked for have knowingly committed many serious illegalities. My current company is making an honest effort to comply with all relevant legislation, but this effort appears to me ridiculous and doomed, since no one can really figure out what, if anything, the legislation we are attempting to comply with means, and what constitutes compliance. --digsig James A. Donald 6YeGpsZR+nOTh/cGwvITnSR3TdzclVpR0+pr3YYQdkG liVZOuTfoRZ0JfmM+NJZXhvgw6giwPDJ1L/iolQ7 4Q4yppLHxuZ/KDqZq2JgBqyRN3uKcX6lKlG7pjKDM