<<I think we both are in agreement with the points you made. What I don't trust is our government, whom if you ask them to restrict sppech in any form will turn it into a free-for-all to restrict ALL speech to suit their ends.>>

You don't appear to realize that corporations now have more rights rights than people do. This government is run corporations. How long do you think *I* would be able to last running around claiming that Microsoft stole my code, and everybody that runs Windows 95 owes me a minimum of $200 per CPU?

A week maybe?

<<The Patriot Act is a good example. The DMCA is another example of good ideas perverted by the legislative processes.>>

The DMCA was a law designed to protect corporations, not people. The Patriot Act is essentially unconstitutional and it's fascist. It has nothing to do with protecting the US from terrorism, and everything to do with controlling your life.

<<I am not saying that what SCOX says should not be restricted by law, just that I don't trust those guys in Washington to make effective and proper laws. They seem to screw it up so much (hey - they can't even interpret antitrust laws apparently, we have a legally sanctioned monopoly funding the SCO Group).>>

They can interpret just fine, it's just that they know who pays the bills. Let me spell it out to you:

Soft money is unlimited, and it goes to a party, not a person. So MS can send a few hundred million to a Democratic or Republican party.

Hard marey is limited to abuot $10K per individual. It goes to a particular candidate. Because this money is limited - there is very little competition from independants.

So - given this setup, who will remain in power forever?

Consider - what liberal things did Clinton really do? What conservatives things is Bush doing? Is he reducing government? Is he decreasing the debt? Is he reducing US involvement around the world?

Bush IS a Democrat. Clinton is a Republican. There is no difference.

Since there is no difference in the party, and either a Democrat or Republican will always get into governent at the federal level and money is given to the party not the individual - who do the parties court for money?

Companies.

<<I hope that makes my position clear.>>

I hope my position is clear. The country is lost. It was lost at least a decade ago when the Democrats started courting big business.

Fascism isn't always terrible, but it can get that way. Works for Singapore, maybe it will work here? *shrug*