On Sat, 15 Sep 2001, Matt Levine wrote:
<snip> Aside from the impartiality issue, I do not believe that the USG has a constitutional right to forbid me from engaging any person/place/thing in an otherwise lawful transaction. </snip>
It's nice that you don't believe it, that doesn't change the fact that they do have the right. (Hint: see crypto export laws for case law)
The fact that a court may have ruled that this is constitutionally permissable does not make it so, it merely makes it "legal". Remember Jim Crow. -- Yours, J.A. Terranson sysadmin@mfn.org If Governments really want us to behave like civilized human beings, they should give serious consideration towards setting a better example: Ruling by force, rather than consensus; the unrestrained application of unjust laws (which the victim-populations were never allowed input on in the first place); the State policy of justice only for the rich and elected; the intentional abuse and occassionally destruction of entire populations merely to distract an already apathetic and numb electorate... This type of demogoguery must surely wipe out the fascist United States as surely as it wiped out the fascist Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The views expressed here are mine, and NOT those of my employers, associates, or others. Besides, if it *were* the opinion of all of those people, I doubt there would be a problem to bitch about in the first place... --------------------------------------------------------------------