On Sat, 20 Jan 1996, Scott Staedeli wrote:
from the Nando Times-
DENVER (Jan 20, 1996 01:16 a.m. EST) -- A college student's request to look at the electronic mail of several high-profile state politicians got lawmakers' attention Friday.
... OK, if _I_ can't read your e-mail Mr. Legislator, why should you be able to read _mine_?
The Colorado state legislature has nothing to do with federal wiretapping laws and with federal laws relating to encryption. Rather than the "government is inconsistent and bad" spin, why not "Colorado legislators and the Colorado governor agree that privacy is paramount in electronic communications. In opposing a request for blanket access to their private electronic mail, they necessarily oppose federal attempts to have access to all electronic mail, once again showing that Washington is out of touch with the rest of the country. Parts of the federal government are catching on, however. The U.S. Commerce Department recently agreed that federal attempts to eavesdrop on electronic transmissions counterproductive in that they are causing problems for U.S. companies which create computer programs designed to allow secure use of the Internet to engage in private discussions and secure commerce. Estimates the dollar value of exports lost range up to $xxx, and continued chilling of U.S. programmers will give foreign programmers the chance to catch up in a field where U.S. expertise presently leads the world. ...." Needs to be re-written and juiced up, but you get the idea. Have at it, Sameer. EBD