Julian Assange wrote:
Certain members of the EFF board seem to be politically naive. The rational, intelligent lobbyist will always see both sides of the argument. Presenting both sides of the argument to the world at large is another matter altogether. You should only present both sides of the argument to the inner policy tactics personnel only in order to formulate policy and create defences for the weaknesses in your position. To the outside world only ever sees a united front. This is basic politics.
This is certainly the way most people in political roles handle things, and it is certainly an effective way of handling simple-minded people.
However, it is one thing I find very difficult to respect.
Respect or not, if your team is small and the field is large, and everyone else is playing gridiron, then don't expect to prove anything but your stupidity by playing cricket.
How many of the world's stupid policies have been enacted, because someone decided to present only one side of an issue, realized it was "the wrong side", and felt they couldn't later change their mind for the better - because they presented the issue as overly black-and-white initially?
I agree, however you are confusing large parties, so dominant as to form government and policy at whim with those that represent a particular cause or interest group. The EFF falls into the latter category. Its goals are relatively narrow, its membership tiny. Such a small group, fighting under-resourced battle against powerful, conservative interests does not need, and should not espouse the arguments of those who seek to destroy it. When Canoing up a waterful, one does not need to paddle backwards 50% of the time in order to be "fair". -- "Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies, The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis, _God in the Dock_ +---------------------+--------------------+----------------------------------+ |Julian Assange RSO | PO Box 2031 BARKER | Secret Analytic Guy Union | |proff@suburbia.net | VIC 3122 AUSTRALIA | finger for PGP key hash ID = | |proff@gnu.ai.mit.edu | FAX +61-3-98199066 | 0619737CCC143F6DEA73E27378933690 | +---------------------+--------------------+----------------------------------+