From: Duncan Frissell <frissell@panix.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 93 17:32:18 PST
To: CYPHERPUNKS@toad.com
Subject: re: Big Brother/Bank Acco
Message-ID: <199312010130.AA09550@panix.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


M >Given the material in the WiReD 1.6 article, how likely is it that a
M >true anonymous digital cash system would be allowed?  I know, I know;
M >there's "no way to prevent it"; however, I think that concept is 
M >based on the premise that the Government proceeds rationally.

The East German government did not "proceed rationally" and yet is no 
longer with us.

M >If somebody with an axe to grind gets hold of the "kidnapped baby"
M >scenario described in _Applied_Cryptography_, plenty of public 
M >outrage and indignation could be generated.  

To what end.  We have had the Kiddie Porn Over the Nets story of the Day 
every day for the last six months in the US and the UK.  Have the nets 
been shut down?  With the clearance rate for *murders* in NYC falling down 
towards 30%, I doubt if we have much to worry about for our minor 
"crimes."

M >Go on, reassure me that "all is well".

All is as well as can be extected and much better than we used to fear.

DCF

"I never expected to live to see the Death of Communism"

-- Friedrich Hayek a few months before his death (and a few months after 
the SU's death.



--- WinQwk 2.0b#1165