At 3:36 PM -0700 10/9/97, Jim Burnes wrote:

I know this is probably like preaching to the choir, but I remember Freeh recently saying that there were no significant losses of software exportation to foreign software companies.

Well he is obviously ignorant or lying through his teeth.

I'm about to recommend a software purchase from a foreign software company that might exceed #300k. Is that on Freeh's radar yet?

Mind you, I don't care where people get their software, but if Freeh is trying to calm the America Firsters by saying that crypto imports aren't important I think someone is congress ought to be informed.

Declan? You're still out there in the pit of vipers. Why don't you tell them. My congressman doesn't seem to listen to me.

What Freeh meant is that "no major political campaign contributors" are losing business, at least not yet. What Netscape and Microsoft may be losing, not to mention what smaller companies may be losing, is of little concern to Clinton, Reno, Freeh, etc. Or even to the Republicans. Until Netscape, Microsoft, RSA, PGP, and C2Net become major contributors, or at least start showing proper respect to their Dons, they don't count. The way an extortion state works is like this: pressure is applied to various industries and groups to get them to contribute lobbyist money and campaign contributions to the various sides. (It almost doesn't matter which sides...) In most cases, the more absurd and ridiculous the law is, the more the lobbyists are incentivized to get their funders to kick in more bucks. The debate over crypto almost certainly fits this pattern. If and when a domestic ban on crypto is likely to pass and be signed, companies like RSA and PGP will face extinction. This will then "incentivize" executives of these companies to release funds, in the form of campaign contributions--either directly or through back channels--to the Republican and Democratic parties. Then a "compromise" will be found which lets RSA and PGP, as examples, survive. And they may also be given government business, with suitable GAK features made mandatory. Such has it always been in "democracies" like the Extorted States of America. So, in addition to the 40% of profits the high tech industry pays in taxes to various governments who demand tribute, they are also expected to kick in more bucks in campaign contributions, junkets to vacation spots, and so on. Only then is there any chance that laws will be modified to suit the highest bidder. Face it, Amerika is basically a Mafia shake-down operation, with the power of the State used to shake down protection money. This is why I favor crypto anarchy: by concentrating on ignoring laws and deploying technology, this extortion state system is bypassed. Also, the tax evasion aspects are poetic justice. --Tim May The Feds have shown their hand: they want a ban on domestic cryptography ---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---- Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, ComSec 3DES: 408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets, Higher Power: 2^2,976,221 | black markets, collapse of governments. "National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."