An Metet <anmetet@freedom.gmsociety.org> wrote:

This stuff should be Cypherpunks 101.

...along with Assassination Politics. I've always taken "X needs killing" to be a statement to the effect that same had earned himself an AP-style contract, if only such a thing existed. While your point is good, inasmuch as it's important to realize that many illegitimate restrictions on liberty can be circumvented with cpunk technologies, there are other ramifications that are just as meaningful. With widespread adoption of cpunk technologies comes the demonopolization of force, the anonymity necessary for AP-style contract markets, &c. It's inevitable---even if {you, the government, whomever} doesn't like the idea of such uses of cpunk technologies--- that these things will spring up. After all, there will likely be great demand for them, and cpunk tech will have enabled them in just the same way it's enabled circumvention of other restrictions on liberty. It's useful to be reminded what the cpunks will have wrought. Like it or not, "needs killing" is likely to remain a fixture around here. -- Riad Wahby rsw@jfet.org MIT VI-2 M.Eng