(Welcome back, David...I haven't seen you post in a long while) At 6:44 AM 8/1/96, David K. Merriman wrote:

Were a government - duly elected - to come into power similar to that in 30's Germany or 70's Viet Nam, so that intellectuals or the educated became the targets of oppression, would she be as adamant about the perceived "rights" of Government to intrude in her private life, monitor her communications, and so on?

Though I am no defender of the People's Benovolent and Democratic Government of Viet Nam, I think you must be thinking of Cambodia. It was Cambodia, in the form of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, which decided to exterminate all educated persons (except themselves, of course). Those wearing eyeglasses were considered Enemies of the People, because presumably they knew how to read. Compared to Cambodia, Viet Nam was a paradise. In fact, I cheered in '79 when Viet Nam invaded Cambodia. --Tim May, who wonders if anyone with access to the Net will become part of the mountains of skulls in Pax Americana Boycott "Big Brother Inside" software! We got computers, we're tapping phone lines, we know that that ain't allowed. ---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---- Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, tcmay@got.net 408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets, Licensed Ontologist | black markets, collapse of governments. "National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."