In the United States and Europe, encryption policy is formed by a mix of interests. Advocates of business, national security agencies, and more recently the police -- all play a large role in the policy debate.
Someone's conspicuously absent here: us. The interests of citizens aren't taken into account, and the notion that civil liberties are relevant to the crypto debate is alien to NSA thinking. This is why the "golden key" campaign is important. Right now, in the short term, the interests of big business and our interests as citizens coincide. They have an acknowledged seat at the table, while we do not. This is not to say that we aren't playing a role -- a big role -- in the policy debate, despite what the NSA lawyer said. We (well, actually some of you) are demonstrating to corporate customers that they need strong crypto. Business is listening to us, and the government is listening to business. Nobody is paying any attention at all to the blue ribbons, though. As long as companies like Netscape continue to support open standards, we'll come out ahead if they pursue their own narrow interests.