Steve Furlong wrote... "Powerful computers, strong crypto, and big databases can lead either to anarchy or to an unstoppable Big Brother. Too close to call, right now." Well, I haven't ruled out the possibility that governments will somehow evolve to roll with the punches. Some new form of government may arise that has characteristics we haven't seen before, or perhaps similar to some of the Sci-Fi out there. (Wasn't it in Snow Crash where Stevens pictures traditional governments basically in competition with numerous franchise governments?) For a long time now I've been very sceptical of any predictions of the future for more than 5 years or so out. Technology and society have a way of generating stuff that's beyond an individual's ability to predict, and government might be the same. Or not. -TD "I used to believe in gun control prior to the Patriot Act." -Tyler Durden

From: Steve Furlong <sfurlong@acmenet.net> To: cypherpunks@lne.com Subject: Re: Why are there so many statists and communists here on this list now? Date: Fri, 2 May 2003 22:05:24 -0400

On Friday 02 May 2003 14:57, Tim May wrote:

...

And as in that debate, where "free speech" is tossed around a lot, nothing in the Dixie Chicks case has involved freedom of speech in any way whatsoever. Think about it.

Tim, you're assuming that statists have the wherewithal to think. This assumption has yet to be demonstrated.

...

I do wonder why they are on the list given the implications of the technologies. I don't think they've realized the implications for their world view and for the breeders and useless eaters they support.

I'm not as confident of crypto's chances of destroying the state and leaving the parasites out in the cold. It's just as likely that the government(s) will declare all crypto illegal, except that necessary for the protection of their own secrets. Digital money is right out, of course. All in the name of anti-terrorism, or the War on Some Drugs, or for the chiiiiildren. Powerful computers, strong crypto, and big databases can lead either to anarchy or to an unstoppable Big Brother. Too close to call, right now.

-- Steve Furlong Computer Condottiere Have GNU, Will Travel

Guns will get you through times of no duct tape better than duct tape will get you through times of no guns. -- Ron Kuby

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