On Tue, 5 Sep 1995, Lucky Green wrote:

Date: Tue, 5 Sep 1995 20:50:44 -0800 From: Lucky Green <shamrock@netcom.com> To: cypherpunks@toad.com Subject: Growth of actions definded as crime. Which math formula?

With every session of Congress, previously legal acts become illegal. Has anyone worked out a function of this growth (number of crimes in the books vs. time)? I am not looking at the numbers of laws passed, but at individual acts that are defined to be illegal. If this has been studied, what is the formula? If anyone with access to more appropriate lists could please give me a pointer/forward the post there, I'd be grateful.

TIA,

-- Lucky Green <mailto:shamrock@netcom.com> PGP encrypted mail preferred.

Really it's hard to answer this because what constitutes a "NEW" act is a real question in and of itself. For example, wire fraud. Is it a "NEW" crime? Or just a subset of fraud, or mail fraud? Carjacking... is that a new offense? Or just a solidification and increase of punishment for armed robbery unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property, and grand theft auto? Check forgery now has it's own offense, but is this distinct from forgery? Most "new offensives" are simply re-classifications of old offenses or efforts to move them into the federal arena. I think the conception that entirely new acts are often made illegal (excepting burning the flag or some such) is an erronious one. --- 00B9289C28DC0E55 nemo repente fuit turpissimus - potestas scientiae in usu est E16D5378B81E1C96 quaere verum ad infinitum, loquitur sub rosa - wichtig! *New Key Information* - Finger for key revocation and latest key update.