I don't think anybody here has made the argument that we plan on the
government protecting us on it, just that it's illegal. Software piracy
is illegal too, but I don't think software companies plan on the
government protecting their interests there...
Also, how's this for fun. There's a city in Kentucky (Glascow, sp?)
that is supposedly the "Information City" or some such. It seems that
this city, via their power company (which is owned by the government),
offers Internet to its citizens at a rate of ~ $11 / month. You buy (or
rent) a box from the city, connect your ethernet card to this box, and
you're on the 'Net real fast like. Basically, the power company has run
a smattering of fiber and coax throughout the town that allows anybody
that wants it to get on the net....just wait it gets better...
Ok, not only can you get ethernet to the 'Net for $11 / month, but the
profits from the Internet venture (owned by the city) goes to subsidizing
electricity for the entire city. Basically, if they make a few hundred
thousand a month from the Internet business, that goes to paying yours
and my electric bills. While that may generally sound nice and all...I
have one question for you. How many languages can you say "socialist"
in?
To top it all off, the mayor of my city loves the model and wants to
implement it here. It's not that I'm concerned necessarily, cuz it's a
long way off. But the mayor actually said in the newspapers... "Government
exists to render services." That's right folks, to render f**kin'
services. I have two problems with this...firstly, the government can't
even pave roads much less handle anything even remotely high-tech.
Second, where in the constitution does it say government should "render
services"? Anybody read 1984?
'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'
`' Jeff Carneal / Sys Admin \ Apex Internet `'
`' jeff@apex.net http://www.apex.net `'
`' The opinions expressed above aren't really mine. They belong to `'
`' someone else who also refuses to take responsibility for them. `'
'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'