Tim May wrote:

Even the weaker form of Freeh's suggestion, that key escrow capabilities be forced into all Internet products, even if the use is "voluntary," seems to lack constitutional support. Could the Federal Trade Commission force all products to have such features? The Consumer Safety Products Commission?

I don't know where the authority for mandatory seat belts and air bags is claimed to come from, either. Or helmet laws in various states.

The 'authority' comes, as always, from power and money. The "Drive 55" mandate is a perfect example of the government stealing the citizen's money, then giving it back in the form of highway funding, with the condition that those states who don't give up their right to decide their own state laws don't get any cash. The greedy fucks feeding at the government troughs want to get their hands on that money _now_, because there is no telling who will be ahead of them in at the trough by the time the Constitutional issues are settled. The bottom line is that the federal government gets their authority by virtue of armed robbery, bribery and illegal seizure. Who is going to stop them? They have the guns! When our elected officials in Congress delved into the INSLAW affair, the Department of Justice told them to "Fuck off." and refused to cooperate with those who represent the citizens. Congress's reaction was to say, "Yup. They're defying us." Ipso facto--Congress is not running the country. The LEA's are running the country. Go figure... TruthMonger # -23A(Sub.C)-009