CDR: Down with techno-egalitarinism, from a reluctant cpunk

I spoke Thurs night at the University of Virginia (http://www.politechbot.com/p-01393.html). I talked a lot about cypherpunkly topics (added some stuff that I haven't seen here, and plan to turn into an article) and even gave the how-to-join address of the cpunx list. Below is a response from one of the students, forwarded here with permission. -Declan ******

From: "Christopher Fazekas" To: Subject: Your speech last night. Date: Fri, 29 Sep 2000 14:23:41 -0400

Dear Mr. McCullagh:

I thank you for a wonderful presentation last evening. It is rare that I am presented with a political subject that grabs my attention. Though I participate actively in political forum, until your speech last evening, it had begun to feel as though I was "going through the motions" so to speak with the boring, redundant ideological pissing matches that characterize University discussion. Thank you for the new subject matter to tackle.

However, what makes this topic interesting, bothers me as well. I was the individual who asked the "prepayment" question concerning intellectual property and proper remuneration thereof. Fantastic new economic models would be forced to be created to describe this "market response" to the dissolution of intellectual property rights. So, I will not venture an opinion on such subject. Yet, I think it is important to mention that there is a fine line between anarchism and libertarianism. At least I find there to be one. Hence, when we talk about the overthrow of the nation state, it sets off quite a few bells. I do not believe judicial systems should be cast to the wayside in favor of techno-egalitarianism, and I feel that the dissolution of intellectual property would sincerely stress current social institutions which I do not believe need to be overthrown, but strengthened as government power is retracted. However, a case could be made that the two are intricately connected to one another.

I realize all this is speculation. So, I will leave it at that. Suffice to say I'm not sure the world is intellectually or socially prepared for anarchy, though I believe it to be our saving end. Once again, thank you for a wonderful discussion and keep in touch.

Please keep me in your list of contacts. As I will be entering law school next fall, I hope to devote a great portion of my career to the preservation of liberty, and make way for this great anonymous freedom.

Sincerely,

Christopher Fazekas Chairman Classical Liberal Roundtable at the University 2432 C-4 Arlington Blvd. Charlottesville, Virginia 22903