Why are there so many statists and communists here on this list now?

[Tyler Durden]

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 at acmenet.net>
>To: cypherpunks at 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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