You know, the first thing that comes to mind when I hear all these slams against the idea of electronic democracy is that the tone and content of the objections are all but identical to those opposing any new tech, most notably the prospect of nanotechnology. I mean, give me a break. Of course the idea is dangerous. But movement at least somewhat in that direction is totally inevitable. Only by recognizing that it, or something like it, will occur, and planning for it, will head off the possible abuses. I personally think it highly unlikely that the whole govt would just roll over and die, but in time people will outright DEMAND more control over the govt. It IS coming whether any of you like it or not. If you doubt this, ask yourself why FOIA appeared. The govt certainly didn't come up with that idea. Nor did they come up with and promote the idea of govt. info available via computer and networking tech to the general populace. Nor FIJA. -- Stanton McCandlish * Space Migration * Networking * ChaOrder * NO GOV'T. * anton@hydra.unm.edu * Intelligence Increase * Nano * Crypto * NO RELIGION * FidoNet: 1:301/2 * Life Extension * Ethics * VR * Now! * NO MORE LIES! * Noise in the Void BBS * +1-505-246-8515 (24hr, 1200-14400, v32bis, N-8-1) *