From: Matthew James Gering <mgering@ecosystems.net>
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1998 09:58:20 +0800
To: "Cypherpunks (E-mail)" <cypherpunks@cyberpass.net>
Subject: RE: How to solve the tax problem w/o anarchy or force (fwd)
Message-ID: <5F152E6E8E6FD21195DF00104B2425AD02B275@yarrowbay.chaffeyhomes.com>
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Vladimir Z. Nuri wrote:

> cpunks actually contribute to this problem with their nihilistic
> philosophy in general. the msg is that it is a waste of time
> to engage in group activity or political discourse or lobbying
> against the govt or organization or *whatever*... it's actually
> just a variant on the sheeple passivity.


"If you think of yourselves as helpless and ineffectual, it is 
certain that you will create a despotic government to be your 
master. The wise despot, therefore, maintains among his subjects 
a popular sense that they are helpless and ineffectual." 
                          --Frank Herbert, The Dosadi Experiment 


I don't think many cpunks (and other freedom loving people) are necessarily
nihilistic so much as they have come to the conclusion that to ignore and/or
subvert government has higher probability of success than trying to reform
it -- much to the demise of the Libertarian Party. The whole cryptography
and geodesic communications being the bane of the nation-state theme tends
to support this idea.

	Matt