Michael Wilson <0005514706@mcimail.com>:

There is a good reason why revolutionaries in very poor nations tend to espouse socialist or communist rhetoric--those are political systems that can raise the quality of life considerably and immediately,

I see governments as representing the collective will of society, responsible for only those things that are best achieved through everyone's cooperation. It is now fashionable to talk about the Asian way -- subjugating freedom to prosperity. This is of course bunkum, freedom is an ideal and is universal. The way to get to that may differ from society to society, particularly, as Michael says, in poor nations. It isn't necessary to have a strong state to survive; India, with a similar standard of living in 1950, has been democratic with more or less regular, free and fair elections. Contrary to popular perception, India has been no more 'socialist' than many European countries such as France, with stockmarkets and large state-owned enterprises. It is naturally more difficult to control crime or rising population here than in China, where petty thieves and corrupt officials are frequently executed. Freedom is a right equally applicable everywhere, whatever the political, social or economic situation. Any technology that promotes it is important for the whole world. Cypherpunks of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your escrowed keychains! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rishab Aiyer Ghosh "Clean the air! clean the sky! wash the wind! rishab@dxm.ernet.in take stone from stone and wash them..." Voice/Fax/Data +91 11 6853410 Voicemail +91 11 3760335 H 34C Saket, New Delhi 110017, INDIA