paul@fatmans.demon.co.uk writes:

...

Jim is hardly the ideal poster boy for a free speech cause, but we should not distance ourselves from him when he runs into problems directly related to his advocacy of anonymous markets. That cuts too closely for comfort. We should defend Jim's right to discuss AP and any other institutions which may arise as a natural consequence of the capabilities engendered by cryptography. That is one of the main things this list is for. If they can silence Jim, it's going to be just a matter of time befor they go after someone else.

I really cannot understand the posts I have been reading to the effect that Jim Bell is a "loon" or a "terrorist" etc... If we do not protect the freedom of expression of the loons, fuckups, terrorists and Bells of this world it will be our freedom that is threatened next. As far as I know, anyway, Jim`s AP essay (the original plan overview) was perfectly sane and discussed the problems of people using it to commit crime by killing an innocent person as well as the advantagest of the plan. I will allow that some of his subsequent posts have been a little "loon" like but I have never considered him to be a foaming at the mouth madman as some do.

Someone said: "popular speech does not need protection". --- Dr.Dimitri Vulis KOTM Brighton Beach Boardwalk BBS, Forest Hills, N.Y.: +1-718-261-2013, 14.4Kbps