I've lurked on cypherpunks on-and-off in the past. Since last departing, I came across the latest John Perry Barlow/Wired broadside on Clipper. Enough. I am working with a small handful of other net denizens in my locale (Columbus, OH) to begin a grass-roots consciousness raising effort about Clipper. We are trying to assemble info-kits for the local media, drum up the assistance of politically active civil libertarians in the area, and whatever else we can do to start a snowball rolling. Any ideas or strategies you would care to forward would be most appreciated. However... The first hurdle I can see now is the eye-glaze factor for John Q. Public. Where can I find more layman-oriented information sources? Like these sorts: 1. Simple explanation of cryptography, *what* not how. Maybe a little on public/private keys. 2. Why laymen, corporations, etc. need access to strong encryption. Good analogies are needed here. (e.g., wireless telecom is easily compromised, etc.) 3. Why we have a right to strong encryption. 4. How the Clipper implementation infringes on our rights. 5. Arguments for/against Clipper, key escrow, and DoJ implementation. 6. Why public (read congressional) hearings are needed. e.g. Administration rationale for clipper. Abuse of key escrow. Guarantee to alternative encryption. Guarantee to import/export of encryption. Having actively tried to get generic folks to see this one coming, it's clear that the Clipper debate will never be more than a tempest in a nerdpot unless we can present both Clipper facts and fears in a way that will help the man-in-the-street see this threat for what it is and give a hoot. Perhaps these sorts of information resources are a bit beyond the cypherpunk focus (cypherpunks write code.) But I would really appreciate any pointers to promising directions for info. Regards, -- James Emerson Hoburg NET: <hoburg@ultryx.com> VOX: +1-614-885-8799 FAX: +1-614-885-5171 0 They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Ben Franklin 0