Jason W Solinsky <solman@MIT.EDU>:

...

. What is to be done about non-conformists to the rules (without contradicting the rules?)

They are fined. If this doesn't work their communication priveliges are curtailed and if this doesn't work they are banished. As I have noted before, in an information economy this is an extreme punishment.

Yes, I can imagine heated debates on the moralities of such cyberspatial death penalties. I like to believe that the Internet model of society and indeed 'government' will eventually be adopted in the mainstream. What does one really need a 'government' for? A central source of power, Max Weber's monopoly of legitimate violence, is surely not the only method of ensuring a degree of fairness and order in society. Especially not in one based primarily on knowledge - or information. What do real world governments do? Broadly, two things. 'Social upliftment' - welfare and development programmes; and 'law enforcement' - ensuring that people stick to what they've agreed upon (idealized: in theory citizens have agreed to the social contract present in the constitution and laws). There is no specific evidence to show that the task of social upliftment is best performed by those with the weapons to enforce laws. Indeed, where welfare is _really_ needed (and I'm not talking about a Swede on unemployment benefits) much of it comes even today from independent organizations. Bangladesh, for instance, has what is almost a parallel government of several hundred local and international agencies that run numerous development projects, funded largely by private monies. Grameen Bank, a cooperative started on the premise that poor village women need small ($100) loans but invariably pay back, has a minute loan failure rate and makes a decent profit, unlike numerous government projects the world over. Development, the primary justification for taxation, is probably better accomplished by people outside the government, who are likely to be more efficient and dedicated. And if they manage with private donations now, they are sure to flourish when there is no compulsory taxation. Most cultures encourage generousity and most people would be willing to invest small parts of their income in organizations that do social work, where they could have far more control as investors than they do currently as taxpayers. Continued... Rishab ps. food for thought: there are seven countries on this planet that allow the death penalty for crimes committed by minors: Libya, Sudan, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the United States of America. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rishab Aiyer Ghosh "Clean the air! clean the sky! wash the wind! rishab@dxm.ernet.in take stone from stone and wash them..." Voice/Fax/Data +91 11 6853410 Voicemail +91 11 3760335 H 34C Saket, New Delhi 110017, INDIA