-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- [Long discussion about crypto-anarchy vs. democracy removed] I suggest reframing the argument. Right now, the discussion seems to be: "If we were Gods, how would we institute a just political system on these people." Unfortunately, only a few Gods are reading the cypherpunks list and they refuse to do our bidding. The real question is: what should we do? Our (oversimplified) choices: 1. Democracy: Participate in the political process by joining various organizations, lobbying, begging for money, voting, etc. etc. 2. Crypto-Anarchy: Write code, buy guns, make money, make more money, etc. etc. The second choice is clearly better in terms of protecting your own hide. What if we want to protect the hides of other people? I believe choice 2 is still the better one. In any event, this is the more interesting discussion. The problem with choice 1 is that even if you can convince yourself that a group of people and an institution are sound and reliable today, you do not know what it will be doing later on. Choice 2, on the other hand, is a low risk investment and brings you into contact with a better group of people. Monty Cantsin Editor in Chief Smile Magazine http://www.neoism.org/squares/smile_index.html http://www.neoism.org/squares/cantsin_10.htm -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQEVAwUBNFzVSpaWtjSmRH/5AQG9LQf/WCepJirikSAU4DIVlRTqYQkfkahLDtxi H8E3a0HSoOYSJAJefx4h2Zl0yy2lYT6mdNjNYsjIR3lDbkDJh97DfgueLHAhmivE Ht4C9XzyzKB2CRGiLD5hlbGRzBYACUWU2sm5xNIxYJ44AuwyhHgpVp8vhQts7XRM xQzLtF4fDD+8Hc5AKq4vE4lTpJzwHUO7T2yANZlFMpx0clJDj7/pr+gSUTaWQcK4 pok4wAj+Hd9wrTtOLG40SqEQmmISi8owutvGStQgb3PSjDFsmpAQimxr4agMcylZ 7qxkNRc/sUzfdN5uc89n1cQ+E2fenocs5W6GJ7N8GRnfYP6127uveQ== =OuX5 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----