Declan McCullagh wrote:
---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 00:23:08 -0700 (PDT) From: Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com> To: Seth Finkelstein <sethf@MIT.EDU> Cc: jseiger@cdt.org, jberman@cdt.org, fight-censorship@vorlon.mit.edu Subject: Re: White House "kinder, gentler"-CDA/censor empowerment meeting
Below we see an excellent example of the naivete inherent in Net-libertarian and cypherpunk writing. Obviously the writer does not understand the complexities and challenges of Washington politics. In many ways, it is like sausage being made: disgusting to watch, but a process that results in the compromises so vital in a healthy democracy.
Which is why it is inappropriate to criticize the White House's position on the CDA. If you speak your mind aloud, you run the risk of being marginalized like the ACLU. How can you serve your constituents then? Obviously, you can't. So I respectfully suggest that Mr. Finkelstein disabuse himself of radical notions like opposing regulation of the Internet.
I can only conclude that because Mr. Finkelstein does not live inside the Beltway, we cannot expect him to realize that it is always necessary to remain players in the game -- even if it means giving up fundamental liberties in the process.
-Declan
Why? Why does Mr. Finkelstein need to play be Washington's "game" rules? I understand why you need to play by the rules. As a Washington insider you are between a rock and a hard place. If you step outside the rules, you loose your connections, your influince, and you livelyhood. (No I do not consider being an insider to be bad. I apreciate the flow of news that we might not otherwise get). For those of us who are outside of the "game" (by choice or otherwise) it does not make since to play. Nobody in Washington listens to us (or that is the way it seems). To give up those fundamental liberties simply hurts us. Insted we change the system by playing outside of the "game" (such as writting strong crypto code and giving it away before Washington makes that illegal). -Doug