From: Tim May <tcmay@got.net>
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 13:27:37 +0800
To: cypherpunks@Algebra.COM
Subject: Re: Bean Counting II
In-Reply-To: <bvbLgDBYeZtLKxtOwBy+tw==@bureau42.ml.org>
Message-ID: <v0310280eb03e81265f20@[207.167.93.63]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain



At 9:26 PM -0700 9/11/97, bureau42 Anonymous Remailer wrote:
>Does anyone know if the government has released any firm figures on the
>number of lives that would be saved from terrorist activities with the
>outlawing of strong encryption and mandatory key escrow?
>
>If we had the proper figures to work with then we could make a valid
>judgment as to how many lives anti-GAK supporters would have to put
>in danger in order to tip the balance so that it would be in the best
>interests of the citizens to allow strong non-GAK'ed crypto.
>I, for one, would hate to see lives lost needlessly merely because
>those opposing GAK did not have the proper figures to work with.

This is a worthless and dangerous argument to make. If you can't see why,
you have no business writing articles on this list.

Hint: "The greatest good for the greatest number" is passe.

--Tim May





>I think that in the interests of the greatest number of citizens, the
>government should supply solid figures as to the body count that would
>be required to negate the need for laws against strong encryption.
>Also, the government should provide a separate figure for how many
>lives of legislators would need to be lost in order to balance the
>threat of strong encryption. I imagine that it would take far fewer
>Congressman's lives to balance it out than it would average citizen's
>lives.
>
>Call your Congressman and ask if these figures are available.
>In order to get the most help possible, begin the conversation by
>asking the Congressman if he is in favor of saving lives.
>
>BeanCounter


There's something wrong when I'm a felon under an increasing number of laws.
Only one response to the key grabbers is warranted: "Death to Tyrants!"
---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:----
Timothy C. May              | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money,
tcmay@got.net  408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero
W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA  | knowledge, reputations, information markets,
Higher Power: 2^1398269     | black markets, collapse of governments.
"National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."