Fight for Control of the Net Erupts on U.N. Watch

[Jester_11218]

Fight for Control of the Net Erupts on U.N. Watch
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=3944682&fromEmail=true

SNIP
LONDON (Reuters) - A controversial plan to grant governments broad controls over the Internet has stolen the spotlight of a United Nations conference on IT next week, where China and Cuba will be among its strongest supporters.

TVNL Comment: WE CAN NOT LET THIS HAPPEN!

[JailBush]

1. Castro better pull his head out of his ass.

Many U.S. citizens sympathize with him, but the could change quickly if he starts screwing with online democracy.

[proud patriot]

2. Has this even been told to the people ?

:grr:

[Jester_11218]

3. first I heard

N/T

[proud patriot]

4. Me too

and I read DU everyday :wow:

[nolabels]

5. I will just keep snickering, lets un-invent the wheel next :-D

The fools just don’t realize the cat is out of the bag. Some might hate others for their freedoms, but I don’t think it’s the ordinary citizens doing the hating.

http://www.civnet.org/journal/issue10/ftwlew.htm

How to use—and not use— digital democracy,
by Wendy Bay Lewis
(snip)
Today's cynicism about government arises from its complex bureaucracy, inaccessibility, and unresponsiveness to the electorate. Americans feel frustrated and neglected. They believe Congress is controlled by special interests. At the local level, they feel town hall is neither friendly nor open. In short, they feel government is no longer accountable to them, despite their efforts at the ballot box. In an attempt to leapfrog Congress and state legislatures, there is a proliferation of ballot initiatives, petitions, and calls for term limits. Proponents of these measures believe the Internet is a tool for “direct democracy” and advocate using cyberspace for virtual plebiscites.

Unfortunately, using the Internet to replace “representative democracy” with “direct democracy” could have long-term, unanticipated, and detrimental consequences for our system of government. The purpose of representative bodies like state legislatures and Congress is to provide a forum for deliberation. If every issue were put to a vote of the people, decision-making would be no more than instant poll-taking, with all the negative consequences of any snap judgment. In contrast to direct democracy, representative democracy insures free and fair debate, taking into account widely disparate needs in a diverse society. In contrast, relying on cyber-polls could easily lead to decision-making that fosters governance by a minority.

There is no question that Americans have lost confidence in government and feel alienated from politics. Across the political spectrum, there are advocates for civic renewal. The first step toward restoring the public's trust is reestablishing an interested and informed citizenry. The Internet can play a pivotal role by providing more access to government, more information and education about the issues, and more opportunity to participate.

"Examples of effective use of the Internet abound". Many city web sites provide direct access—via e-mail—to all city officials and employees so that constituents can contact them directly with questions, complaints, and suggestions. While city employees initially feared they would be overwhelmed with online inquiries, they have found that e-mail is far more efficient than telephone inquiries and leaves all parties satisfied with the results. Similarly, the “electronic town hall” is growing in popularity. Some city and county commissions post their meeting agendas on the Internet and conduct online discussions to supplement public meetings. Others post and accept applications for vacancies on citizen advisory boards. Every federal agency and state has a web site, just visit the U.S. State & Local Gateway at www.statelocal.gov.
(snip)

[frank frankly]

6. this was forewarned, but I can't remember where...

I will try to find the link to the article about this I emailed to my IT friends.

They are coming after the Internet. The broad idea is to require official centralized gov't registration for all websites. This alone will reduce variety of content, and of course that would just be the beginning.

Another reason why 2004 is do or die for us bi-pedal mammals.

[nolabels]

7. They will buckle under a torrent of presure from real lovers of..........

innovative ideas and freedom (probably a few other different kind of lovers too))

http://www.libertyforall.net/2003/archive/jan5/pledge.html
I pledge allegiance - but never
to the US Flag and what it now
represents
by Ed Lewis
(snip)
With the above in mind - and after you read the Ten Commandments, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution for the United States of America, and the Bill of Rights - answer this: Does the US Flag more properly represent the industrial/military/politico complex - the United States Government Corporation - created by traitors to the Constitution who enforce under color laws, or does it represent Liberty of the people?

If you believe it is the latter, then remove the license plates from your automobile and begin to travel the country. Carry a loaded firearm with you in case "terrorists" carry out an act against the American people on American soil. When detained, pull out the Constitution and inform the law enforcer you are an American exercising his right to travel freely on public owned roadways while fully armed, that unless he has a bona fide search warrant or an indictment from a lawful Grand Jury, that you are going to proceed on your way.

Refuse to show him any papers unless the search warrant is produced and lawfully complete with your Christian name, what is being looked for (probable cause of a crime against another sovereign), and signed by a lawful judge. Refuse to step from your automobile and then tell the enforcer he is a servant of the people, that you are sovereign to him (his boss), and you are ordering him to allow you to continue on your way.

Tell him you are armed to protect yourself and the American people against terrorists and any traitors who aid and abet the enemies of liberty and our unalienable rights, whether the enemies are foreign or domestic.

Do so, however, only if you have some sort of death wish. If you survive the encounter without any retribution taken against you - and a hearty "have a great day" from the enforcer as you go merrily on your way - then maybe the flag symbolizes freedom of the American people.
But then we come up against over 13,000 Executive Orders given by presidents, present and past. None are law - none are constitutional when applied within the union states. Presidents cannot make law.
(snip)

I think it takes all kinds and I love the libertarians for their freethinking, but sometimes practicality goes amiss with these folks.

And then to realize even with all that big thinking that goes on all over the globe, some people still haven't figured out that can't take it with them in the long run

So my thinking would be; what does anybody have to really lose other than their freedom, anyway?

[SpiralHawk]

8. This is a BIG story

Let's pay close attention. Kick.