Clarification on The Politics of Export Restrictions

[Rick Hornbeck]

I am submitting the following a second time as the first one did not seem
to get posted.

==============

I agree the strategy would have to be hijack-proof.  Something like Gore
experiencing a convenient "change of heart" towards the end of this current
term and convincing Clinton and the administration to soften crypto export
restrictions which would make Gore look like a hero to the high-tech
community just in time for the election. Naturally this would have to be
carefully scripted but the objective would be to keep the democrats in power.

Just a theory.



>>Return-Path: <owner-cypherpunks at toad.com>
>>Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1997 23:43:43 -0800
>>From: Greg Broiles <gbroiles at netbox.com>
>>To: Rick Hornbeck <rnh2 at ix.netcom.com>
>>Cc: cypherpunks at toad.com
>>Subject: Re: The Politics of Export Restrictions
>>Sender: owner-cypherpunks at toad.com
>>
>>At 09:44 PM 1/29/97 -0800, Rick Hornbeck wrote:
>>
>>>Is it possible the unreasonable crypto export restrictions are simply being
>>>imposed at this time for the purpose of making Al Gore look good when he
>>>runs for President in 2000?
>>
>>I suppose it's plausible, but it's an opportunity open to both candidates,
>>and more plausibly (because of lack of collaboration) to the Republicans -
>>e.g., Dan Quayle and the "Crypto Freedom For Americans" platform, promising
>>to rescue Silicon Valley from those evil regulatory Democrats. 
>>
>>If I were an evil politician trying to set up a trick like you suggest, I
>>think I'd want a scheme that my opponent(s) couldn't hijack and use against
>>me.
>>
>>--
>>Greg Broiles                | US crypto export control policy in a nutshell:
>>gbroiles at netbox.com         | 
>>http://www.io.com/~gbroiles | Export jobs, not crypto.
>>                            | 
>>
>>
>>