Tim wrote:
I hope, though, that our list does not degenerate to the point of attempting to convince the Feds who are monitoring us of our views.
I'm reminded of something from the bad old days of the Soviet Union. Refuseniks and other protestors in Red Square used to earnestly plead their case to the KGB agents as they were being arrested. It was as though the logic, morality, humanity or whatever of their arguments would somehow penetrate the conscience of the thugs who were hauling them in. It didn't. It won't be any more effective on the Cypherpunks list either. Any Federales who might still have some shred of decency, respect for the Bill of Rights, or even just a sense of fairness, are way outnumbered by immoral careerist who have no compunctions about cheating, lying and destroying innocent lives on their way to retirement and a fat government pension. The three most important things good people can do are: * "Write code"--for real and metaphorically. * Refuse to take the bait when the Federales troll. * Realize and embrace your moral superiority to the thugs of the world. S a n d y