Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!nuchat!sugar!ficc!jeffd
From: jeffd@ficc.uu.net (jeff daiell)
Newsgroups: comp.society.futures
Subject: Re: valid topics
Summary: subjects not explored
Message-ID: <2314@ficc.uu.net>
Date: 28 Nov 88 19:06:37 GMT
References: <2272@ficc.uu.net>
Organization: Ferranti International Controls
Lines: 44

In article <2272@ficc.uu.net>, jeffd@ficc.uu.net (Jeff Daiell) writes:
> unable to, so let me do so here, please.
> 
> Whether a computer network is provided by voluntaristic or
> coercive means is a very important question in the future of
> computing, so it should, indeed, be addressed here.
> 
> It has the following sub-questions:
> 
>   1. Who should/will pay for such a good/service -- users or
>      taxpayers?
> 
>   2. Who should/will control it -- users or politicians/bureaucrats?
> 
>   3. Will its purpose be the advancement of computer science and 
>      improvement of the general Human condition -- or the 
>      enhancement/aggrandizement of political empires?              
> 

(1) Has been explored pretty well.  Unfortunately, human rights
    advocates have still not been abled to sway those who feel that
    wanting something entitles them to force others to pay for it.
    But (2) hasn't been dealt with enough.  Do we really want to
    hand over control of something that's pretty significant now,
    and likely to be more significant as time goes on, to the
    Ed Meeses, Bert Lances, Dan Quayles of the world?  There are
    significant 1st Amendment and 4th Amendment issues here that
    should be addressed.  Government at all levels taps phone 
    calls, and Uncle Sam inteferes with the mails -- do we want
    analogous antics going on with a computer network?  Item (3)
    has not been dealt with at all, but is also quite vital.
    Do we want to hand over what could be a great facilitator
    of Human advancement over to those whose main goal would be
    re-election, or building political fiefdoms?

I'd like to read some more comments on (2) and (3), please.

Jeff Daiell
(opinions my own, until the IRS confiscates them)

-- 
         "I'm just a soul whose intentions are good ...
        Oh, Lord,  please don't let me be misunderstood!"

                              -- The Animals